Of course granite is nice, but if you're not going to be selling to upper-scale customers, or if the surrounding houses sell fine with no granite countertops, this might be an area where you could cut some costs and increase your margins.As far as the AC unit and new heating go, your estimate of $9-10k seems a bit low to me.

I know my comps and my markets very well, I have a great construction ability, and I sell well, so my comfort level is based on my personal experiences with real estate, and my personal expertise...

I do have experience with both flips and rentals for multi-family and single family so that should definitely be a plus going forward for my business partner and I as we take our business to the next level of investing.

So, it would help to know:- where you are- where you intend to invest- what your comfort level is investing here in the US, if that's your plan

Understanding the neighborhood and the level of upgrades it can sustain.

The carpet has been soiled and they hired a carpet cleaner, but some of the spots are coming back. the wood floor on the first level has also been scratched and their is a slight urine smell.

After that, I kept my expenses lower than my income, reduced my workload to human levels, took many small trips, several large trips and cared for my grandparents until their passing. 

Is it better to buy a fixer upper and actively work on it as I'm living in it so I can increase the appreciation for when I sell and move onto the next, or is it more possible to allow appreciation to occur naturally and build up my property ownership over the course of years and sell out in the end.

We needed a family home and wanted to find a fixer upper to gain equity.

We needed a family home and wanted to find a fixer upper to gain equity.