Lots of landscaping potential to make it have better curb appeal!

Also, some curb appeal is essential.Where I live, this house would be selling at $1million, depending upon the neighbourhood.  

I've taken it as far as I can: rezoned to residential, new road with curbs and sidewalk, six separate water and sewer stubs.

Also addressing exterior elements such as as siding, windows, doors and landscaping can all improve the curb appeal of a building.

Doing everything you can to increase the curb appeal of a property will go a long way towards increasing the market appeal of the property which often teams to an increase in market value. 

I immediately worked on the curb appeal, lots of paint, lots of plants, privacy fences and screens.

If your credit score and DTI ration tank due to the loans, but they pull your full credit to see that you have solid history...than really their main concern is...if I give you this refinance are you really going to pay off that other debt or are you going to keep the money and blow it all on black at the roulette table in Atlantic City...so long as you can curb their fears that you aren't going to do this...than you have success.Don't bother talking to Wells Fargo or Bank of America or any of the other big banks...you're going to be looking for smaller community or at best regional banks as well as credit unions who have more flexibility with regards to how they structure their loan terms. 

In our market we drop metal on the curb and let the "scrapper jackers" take it away. 

What would you do to spruce up this curb appeal for a college rental?

You not only want to understand what the competition looks like, what the traffic numbers are like, if you have curb cuts in good places, and if the intersection is lighted will be a big deal also.You also want to understand what the demographics and psychographics of the area are.