Instead of me freshening up the house with neutral colors to appeal to the masses, the new buyers could pick out their own paint colors, carpet, etc and decorate to suit their own taste.So which is the better way?  

Interior looks amazing with very neutral colors. 

The property needs to be Cash Flow positive or at least neutral.  

They know that my properties are cash flow neutral and that I'm in it for the long term payout (principal paydown in 15 years with low interest, and hopefully, nice appreciation).

HUGE amount of jobs coming there right now... and over the next few years.you can buy a cash flow neutral to a little positive in the 200 to 250k range were else can you buy a property like that 20 minutes from the financial district in SF.. and its the same tenant base as you would get in Memphis...

I have 2 rent houses that I have done this on sofar and the color is a nice neutral color.

For a fix and flip, neutral colors are often best. 

It is not my place to tell you what to put on your tax returns, or not.Tax returns and smiley/neutral/sad faces are a different matter. :)I just switched my current company to an S-Corp and put my self on the payroll since I know lenders dislike us "self-employed" folks.I hate to break it to you, but that was a waste of time and potentially money.

I'm kind of stuck in neutral.

Lastly, if you don't understand what's driving rents, then you shouldn't be renovating (except to neutralize the paint).