Maybe if work with your neighbors you can put some pressure on the city to improve the sewers or install sump pumps in the homes.

Use Experian Boost from the Experian credit report site to use things like your cell phone bill being paid on time each month to improve your credit and your rent being paid on time.

Never reuse pictures unless the actual unit will be improved from the previous pictures.

What are your top go-to home improvements to raise appraisal value?

Do you write off the expenses, improvements, depreciation ,etc of your investment off your A) rental income (cash flow) or B) primary income (full-time job)

Then any rehab you have those cost, they add up quick from light bulbs and batteries to water heaters and air conditioners.Once you get a tenant in it they will find things that don't work that you missed because nobody has been living there get ready for a few calls to sort things out if its been awhile since anyone lived there. 

Purchase price: $400,000 Cash invested: $209,000 5 bedrooms 2bathrooms, swimming pool, 2 car garage,1847 sq ft under air and 0.67 acres.

Yes and that portion broken up and used exclusively for the air bnb is also counted as investment space. 

This allows the tenants to improve the property (with my permission) and get equity out of that.I found a family that is willing to accept these terms, and they have several sons who are capable of doing the necessary cleanup on the property.

We over improved this house when renovating.