Real estate is a long term wealth building strategy and in that one year you can learn a lot about home improvement and land lording. 

Are you seeing any emerging trends or opportunities tied to these lifestyle improvements, such as increased demand for certain property types or neighborhoods?

Before renting, I need to complete a few improvements to the townhome, such as landscaping and replacing the flooring in the bedrooms.I have a few questions and would appreciate any advice: What should I look out for during the home inspection and closing process on a new-build property?

Not an improvement.  

Small improvements or updates can justify slightly higher rents too.

Love the drive you have to continue to improve your portfolio and don't let a NO deter you from asking elsewhere.

Village to Village Network (https://www.vtvnetwork.org/) and Men’s Sheds Association (https://usmenssheds.org/) are successful models of people building community to improve the aging experience.So drawing on Dr Thomas and Nancy’s work and incorporating cohousing and pocket neighborhood elements into my communities, I have chosen to use shipping container homes in areas along the Texas coast where storms frequently cause wind and water damage.

You could have as well restructured deal and provided deal improvement instead of trying to milk 5-6+% commissions on the new deal from invetors.

Places like Leander, Cedar Park, and Georgetown are seeing incredible infrastructure improvements and population spikes.

We improve the kitchen and the patio but just because we live here.