Meanwhile, here is my recent post on cost segregation:  Cost Segregation - The Basics (biggerpockets.com)@Michael Plaks   Well said. 

Here’s an extreme example to illustrate - if you 100% leverage a purchase for $300k and it’s worth $100k and you’re cash flowing $5/mo, your COC return is infinite.

At the moment we buy basically move in ready properties and let appreciation do what I had to work for.

Is it worth it to do a complete gut job and basically make it new or should I patch it up and get it "good enough" to rent.

They wanted $115k, and this house could have sold with basic landscaping as is for $150k (which I did tell them as I wanted to list it originally).

This new calculator is basically the free one real estate influencers are giving for free.

I haven't met her yet, but can only expect a request to come out of this as well.At the end of the day, I want to address the basic needs of my tenants, but I can't help thinking that either that people got word of the original showerhead I replaced, or they're just taking advantage of the rent increase.

I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23If a purchase, you also generally need reserves / savings to show you have 3-6 month payments of PITIA (principal / interest (mortgage payment), property taxes and insurance and HOA (if applicable).

The local government had my contractor create some basic drawings of the work, had me pay the permit fee and pay for an inspection. 

I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23If a purchase, you also generally need reserves / savings to show you have 3-6 month payments of PITIA (principal / interest (mortgage payment), property taxes and insurance and HOA (if applicable).