Let me know if you have any specific tax questions.Your profile mentions that you are a flipper - The goal for the CPA that you work with should be to maximize the deductions you have and see if there are ways to reduce to self-employment tax liability.Best of luck!

To maximize full value, most buyers do indeed prefer for the property to be vacant.

Finally, if you don't have the cash or don't want to spend out of pocket, there are programs that will fund the repairs before you sell to help you maximize your exit. 

This enables to you invest cheaply, maximize rent income and cash flow, and build some experience as an investor/Landlord.

If employed without an employer match (or after contributing enough to maximize the match), I'd likely favor RE.

I'm ideally looking to maximize the equity value in the home and trying to figure out the best moves to make as this would be my first time.

Lake homes are usually fully custom, because you have to maximize the small amount of land you have.

Have you maximized your income with the most leveraged improvements, best photos and marketing, listing service reach?

If you're OK with coming to that point and then saying I'll work another 18 months because I didn't maximize my investment return and gave those nice tenants a rent break, that is fine.

And those who do things right but also go the extra mile to meet your tax goals, make suggestions, and help you maximize your options.