I really enjoy walking/hiking near Millerton or in Bass lake, I find myself to think more creatively in those settings.

Also, I recommend placing it on zillow for rent; it won't cost you anything and the audience is far larger and mainstream than craigslist (which still scares some folks).Don't lower your price further...change your marketing approach from quiet and cozy - to  stunning Dean Lake access home, with garage and large lot for enjoying the great out-and-indoors.  

Some cities for the rental property would be anywhere in Salt Lake County like Draper, Riverton, Lehi, American Fork, Lindon, Alpine, Highland, West Jordan, Sandy, Herriman, Bluffdale. 

No, the lake can have a lot of wind related wave action and things just get pulled off beaches if they are left too close.

If you could please lend any advice/experiences/lessons learned about moving into a SFH fixer upper w/ conventional financing + renovation loan, add sweat equity, refinance in a few years and convert to full rental, I'd truly appreciate it.This is my strategy to begin my REI career here in Houston and considering Oak Forest area, so any locals with advice on that would be sincerely appreciated as well.Thank you so much for your time!

It's still a mixed bag, and the closer you get to the lake the better in general; if you get further away from the lake its still hit and miss.

Investment Info:Mobile home fix & flip investment in Lake Wales.

Regarding Denver neighborhoods, here's my personal favorites:Villa Park, Barnum, Westwood, Athmar Park, Harvey Park, Ruby Hill.Villa Park is interesting because some of the scrap and builds are coming down there from Sloan's Lake area, so you have these older homes from the 50s and 60s and then a couple of new builds, so that is one neighborhood that is trending from C to B sooner.  

The city is fully built out: between the lake and the surrounding suburbs with their large lot subdivisions and mansions there are is no room left for growth, new construction in the suburbs is expensive 450-650k usually for a single family - too expensive for most.

I live in Lake Orion, but current have one SFR rental in Pontiac.