Depending on your budget- the curb appeal would be greatly enhanced by painting the brick a lighter color- white or pale gray so that the entry doesn’t look so dark and unwelcoming.  

In NYC, I found out that there are four exemption categories as follows: School Tax Relief (STAR) Basic STAR, Enhanced STAR, Senior Citizen Homeowners Exemptions (SCHE), and Disabled Homeowners Exemptions (DHE). 

You are off to a great start with knowing friends that are already real estate investors and BiggerPockets can only enhance your network!

I installed big windows in each room, did tape n bed, texture, trim (with panels), AND INSTALLED 12MM LAMINATE FLOOR, all for only 3k in labor cost (I was honestly broke and low priced hoping he would throw me bonus money at the end).

Making money on the buy is an old saying, but it is really making equity on the buy.My final comment "Lastly is you make money on the buy not the sell." regardless of it's age will withstand the test of time for the simple reason that purchasing properly regardless of market conditions greatly enhances your odds of having equity.

And without any enhanced encryption!

Full re-pipe and re-wire, full sheetrock downstairs (ceilings too), upstairs just new texture, all doors replaced, all cabinets replaced (upper and lower), all new flooring (enigineered wood, tile and carpet upstairs), etc. 

It comes in many varieties and flavors, and almost ALL of them will be enhanced by having a license.

Total true taxes I believe are the same & then personal situations apply (STAR, enhanced, military etc)

Many investors run into issues with raising capital due to errors from years ago, particularly issues that effect their credit, so the question is do tradelines work to enhance your credit to the cream of the crop and qualify you for the best terms and rates for your fix and flips and buy and holds?