If you repaint the cabinets and it takes 8 hours but you save money there so you can buy the granite counter tops/higher end appliances that may attract the buyers quicker thus reducing holding costs, you might be better off repainting.

I would reduce pictures of fish and add pictures of house.

That will also reduce the demand on the supply of single-family residences.

Does anyone know if there is a way to reduce the amount of taxes I'll have to pay for selling the investments?

Down the road, you could then sell them piece mill in different tax years to reduce you tax hit.For me, it got complicated on a silly issue, lineal footage on the street, but this is VERY city specific.

There are brokers who charge their agents much less or they pay a set fee, and those can usually negotiate with you for a reduced rate.  

And the amount extended can be reduced at an accelerated pace by prepaying (actual the only way a heloc balance will go down)., but unlike PMI will not simply drop off once your equity position reaches 20% through any appreciation.I don't think Pmi is bad at all for the right situation.

Review that them regularly with a few people that you trust to help all of you to reduce expenses and gain income.  

The tax credit cannot be larger than the owner's annual federal income tax liability, after deductions, exemptions and other credits.PITI is currently $950 - PMI does suck and is 83 bucks a month, I've recently learned that my insurance was maybe a tad bit to high and I have since reduced it by $22/month but wont go into effect until 10/2017.

If you have delinquent debt, paying it down and getting current will improve your score.2) You reduce your credit utilization.