Relatively cheap but visually impactful upgrades can really boost appeal and rent.

It would feel silly to give the back wall a fresh coat while leaving the actual curb side of the house with the older paint.  

So, I'm thinking of adding a siding such as Dryvit in order to a.) improve insulation and b.) enhance the curb appeal.

It is really an interest free loan, but it is still a boost for the first time home buyer.

Purchasing a property at a great price and then boosting its quality and appearance with some repairs and renovation will not only improve the property value (and thus the return on your investment), it will allow you to increase the rental rates.

He wasn't being malevolent, he was only thinking about his immediate need and trying to do the least amount of shovelling possible.Earlier this summer, I just happened to be passing by one of our student houses when I noticed the neighbour from across the street, who is in her mid 70s, pushing their garbage dolly to the curb.  

In California, your source-water temperatures are unlikely to become cold enough that an in-line heater cannot boost the water temperature sufficiently.

Once things get better and we enter a boom, banks start lending on low end condos again, expanding the pool of buyers and boosting prices.My business partner and I bought a bunch of condos in 2012 for about 20% of what they sold for at the peak of the last cycle.

The neighboring single story (with curb appeal) just sold for $800k.  

Do you recommend Curbed for some local real estate reading?