I am not looking to make major improvements, but I am looking to enter and secure it.

To this very day we are still taking on new clients and are doing just fine, so it goes to show you can’t please everyone but that doesn't mean you can’t still do good business and improve.

Over the past 6 months I have been really researching and devoting myself to self improvement and learning.

It's all about the location, you might be able to buy a cheap house, but if it's in an area with nothing but other cheap houses and in an area that is "not desirable" you're not going to make much money on it, either in improvements or rent.

First you need to learn to separate the following:Maintenance: usually things related to wear & tear or tenant damage.Repairs: usually broken items like doors & windows, caused by tenant or nature.Capital Improvements: usually expensive things that wear out: hot water tanks, furnaces, roofs, etc.The seller is correct that Repairs & Capital Improvement items should not be a factor for awhile (ALWAYS get your own inspection to confirm).

Improve the property2.

Before listing it on an STR platform, I need to make some improvements to my current home.How can I maximize tax write-offs for these improvements?

This could improve your margins.Occupancy Rate: A 60% occupancy rate seems low for Jax Beach, but that is a reasonable conservative baseline. 

We discovered the previous owner had dementia which explained most of the work we needed to do, Our short-term is improving that unit to rental standard, not necessarily adding property value as he and I are still drawing floor plans for Long term.Thank you!!!

Hope NOI and CoC will improve in the near term, until then avoid putting any new money.