However, if the military receive another boost like 5-10% in housing allowance it could reinvigorate the market for sales and rentals. 

Doing all the work ourselves to boost returns and cut down on expenses.

I can use a little bit of money to secure a large asset, do some improvements, boost the rents, and then I have a cash-flowing property that the tenants pay for.

Or maybe he's just a kind hearted soul giving up some of his spread because he wants to pay it forward... 

Hotel ballrooms aren't free, they likely aren't doing this out of their charitable heart, etc.  3.)

Even if the performance of the investments is somewhat lackluster, that front end boost can be very worthwhile, especially if the reduction in income from the contributions keeps you in a lower overall tax bracket.When you are 59 1/2, you will have the option to transfer some of that 401(k) money to a plan of your choosing.  

It was an eye opener and a boost of motivation.

If he is doing that, it's out of the kindness of his own heart. 

TSLA is not for the faint hearted!

That is why you need to boost equity as much as possible rather than relying simply on market appreciation as the market may not yield the high enough increase in value as a rehab may generate.