The property manager should be involved before you buy any property to give input on due diligence, how to increase income and reduce expenses, and to make repairs or improvements to maximize occupancy.Excellent property management is critical to your success before, during, and when planning to sell or refinance.To your success!

This upgrade not only improved comfort but also significantly modernized the property.

Being that the new property that we buy will become our primary residence and we are buying a fixer upper, how do we get the best tax breaks for the repairs and/or improvements?

I would purchase a duplex (or even better, purchase a SFH with as many bedrooms as you can afford and rent by the room), and then slowly improve the property. 

A lot of investors find that expenses like repairs, vacancies, and capital improvements can eat into their margins, especially early on.

I never paint, swap rugs (except flooding), or do other improvements on rent controlled units This can lead to blight.Who benefits from rent control?

These systems are becoming more sophisticated and (my favorite) capable, leading to improved user experiences and potentially freeing up human employees to handle more complex tasks and interactions.

Repairing/improving to sell.

So I would caution everyone to make sure the replacement cost for your improvements will realistically cover your actual replacement cost in the event of a total loss.

If rates improve slightly, a cash-out refinance could lower your mortgage rate, but ensure the numbers work with your long-term goals.One thing to consider is your return on equity (ROE).