These updates modernized the property, improved its curb appeal, and significantly increased its market value.

Time will indeed improve the results.

will also on the left coast its exceedingly rare that a property with improvements goes to tax sale ..99.9% of tax sale props are bare land. 

That comes with the expense of the refi - but if you were already cash-flowing on your new purchase, you will only improve your situation when you refi. 

Personally, I maintain both an emergency fund reserve and capital improvement/major repairs reserves. 

Your improvements—curb appeal, HVAC, paint, and closet work—add value.

If so, install a propane pig underground, and hook up a propane generator to it if your local regulations allow for it.If a propane truck can't get get to the site, there are several all-in-one battery solutions that have the battery and inverter and solar panels together. 

Adjusted on a per-square-foot basis to account for more small homes being listed compared with 2019, the median price increased by 52.7% since May 2019.The number of homes for sale improves but is still low compared with pre-pandemic levelsThere were 35.2% more homes actively for sale on a typical day in May compared with the same time in 2023, marking the seventh consecutive month of annual inventory growth.For the first five months of this year, the inventory of homes actively for sale was at its highest level since 2020.

Also wanted to buy this property as it was a board up directly across from my first investment property so by improving it I helped the neighborhood values and keeping the area up.

I'm particularly focused and eager to learn as much as I can about the Sub-To (Subject-To) method and Owner Financing.A little about me: I own a multi-service home improvement company, which has given me a solid foundation in property maintenance and renovation.