Put all your cash flow into improving your existing rentals or buying more.

For example she starts dating a carpenter or a handyman type (or even worse a wannabe carpenter or handyman) who moves in and does work on the home and claims they should have equity too for making those improvements.

Thanks Anthony, solid idea to improve efficiency.

Thank you You are obviously a sincere young person looking at improving your financial position.  

Maybe they know the owners or were able to get the owners to let them see the inside.The process would be significantly improved if there was an expiration time for the owners to become current on the tax debt. 

Like aircraft checklists and vehicle operators manuals (the -10s), one can benefit from extensive research, trial and error, and deliberate improvement principles gained by the many that have gone the path before. 

🌞6️⃣ Rental Income Deductions: Earn income & deduct related expenses.7️⃣ Home Equity Loan Interest: Deduct interest if used to improve your home.8️⃣ Military Moving Expenses: Active-duty?

What is your skillset or time availability, what is your network currently like and do you need to improve that?

I wouldn't necessarily put a lot of efforts into improving/building/spending in hopes of staying booked solid, but it is a nice 'side hustle' for a pretty piece of land to bring in some extra income while it sits. 

But I agree with an above poster that $10 psf in tenant improvement seems low, unless you can find a turn-key tenant to occupy that will require very little renovation.In DFW, for 2nd generation spaces, I've seen LLs underwrite at about $25-35 psf in expected TI allowance (subject to the lease terms and tenant credit rating).