@Angela Miller - This area has many properties that come up regularly but as @Ronald Starusnak mentioned, most need updating/rehab to be optimal rentals for the area. 

Regular office when economy is good they branch out into their own locations and sign leases.

I cleaned the property, it was filthy.

If you are investing and trying to move from the left side of the quadrant as an employee or self employed to the right by being a home provider (investor), then year long tax planning should be a regular event for you.

We rent the apartment on the extended stay market which means we must do a deep cleaning frequently between tenants.

Have clean, safe, nice units at a fair price.  

Anyway back to our regularly scheduled program I just don't get to talk to many pilots on BP  :)  and good luck with whatever decision you make with your equity.. nice problem to have..  

I regularly come to California several times a year on speaking engagements so we can connect there when I'm in town, or if you are going to be coming to Montgomery I'd be glad to show you around. 

pulled carpet, refinished floor. completely redid kitchen. paint inside and out. sod in front, cleaned and seeded back What was the outcome?

You can clean a property, set up a wireless alarm system, turn the power or the gas on and off, touch up paint throughout a fixed house, go through the MLS, answer the phone, follow a checklist, fetch coffee and donuts, plug numbers into a calculator or spreadsheet, file paperwork, and drive.