I would recommend you get in touch with a real estate attorney-CPA firm, to help you walk through all the benefits available to your specific situation.

Specifically, ALWAYS work on providing safe conditions and law-abiding procedures.

You'll probably need to find a lender who's willing to work with your specific circumstances.

Specifically, I think they should arrange a discounted sale even if that means they lose money.

This on addresses your specific 2nd qeustion.The question is not whether clearing the jungle qualifies as a preservation improvement, it is whether you are even allowed to recover for preservation improvements at all with that property. 

Many investors want to invest in a specific property in a specific location - they prefer to know what they are buying as opposed to not knowing what specific properties they will own thru a REIT.At the end of the day, each investor needs to sort thru those issues for themselves.

A lot of it comes down to your specific property - you can do well in a dead market or do terribly in a hot market.

I own 1 duplex in the hilltop, specifically off Sullivant/Hague in the "better" area of Hilltop (only about .5 miles away from Westgate).It is by far my highest flowing property.

For a more specific answer. 

I was focused specifically on that comment.