If something has been sitting on the market for awhile - take that to your advantage to negotiate a lower purchase price / better terms.Cold call if you want to find deals directly and weed out competition. 

For months everyone was complaining about the competition of having to fight for properties against so many other bidders, and how quickly deals were turning so they didn't even have a chance to take a stab at it.

As long as it is competitive in the market and an attractive property, there is no reason to make any other changes.

Being not the most "handy" person in the world and not feeling quite ready for a BRRR strategy just yet, a newer construction such as the one in Ashland City I'm looking at seems like a perfect way to get started househacking, at a fair price and in way less competitive market. 

Easier to do in multiple states as you don't have to worry about taxes, etc.You only sell on price when you have nothing else to offer, so what are you going to offer to differentiate yourself from competition?

This is where I invest, competition is not as bad as NY 

With that many years on the earth i challenge you to find your competitive advantage as you will have distinct advantages over others in their 20s or 30s just starting out because of all the relationships you have built, skills you have acquired, and places and situations you have seen.

Look at what’s currently on the current as competition.

There's a thousand different things to do, just make sure you aren't leaving anything out that most of your competition is doing!

If it were mine, I would (probably) make the interiors up-to date modern so that it is not super obsolete looking in 10 to 15 years.I would do them as they turn--one unit at a time--and spread the financial hit out over time (both the added turn time and the added out of pocket).I would also check the water heaters for age (service life) too, as well as doing any electrical upgrades when the walls are open (adding additional GFCI outlets or etc...)My rational about this is would be, can the place get market rate rent simply by painting over the paneling (which seems low end to me), and what is the close in competition offering and getting in rent?