As a landlord myself, I appreciate the surplus of investors coming in and improving the neighborhoods here with flipped homes that would otherwise continue being dilapidated properties. 

Check out YouTube - many audio books you can listen to on YouTubeThat's where I listened to emyth and rich dad poor dad

You can also fund improvements, like an FHA203k, but you don't have to live there & can do a lot of the work yourself.  

Also, if they are improving the efficiency of most appliances, would the future costs not be deferred by the future savings of such appliances?

I understand the desire to make all the profit and to have a big multiplier by improving the whole area.

I think once we get into spring it will improve.

Rehab it and improve it's value.

She has a weekly radio show on Wednesdays at https://www.wmkvfm.org/innercircle.php (also available as a podcast on iTunes and she has a YouTube channel).I think she'd be a great person to connect with since you're local to the area and she's been investing in the area for decades.

Check out my youtube also!

And maybe some other minor improvements.