However from my observations the squatter occupied properties tend to be in lower barrier markets and I wouldn't personally want to spend my time and effort trying to create value in such neighborhoods.

I'd personally wouldn't refi it.

I am a handy person who would be able to perform much of the home renovation myself.

These professionals can provide expert guidance, conduct a thorough assessment of your property's valuation, and represent you in negotiations or appeals with the assessor's office or assessment appeals board.Attend Assessment Hearings: If your jurisdiction offers assessment appeal hearings, attend these hearings to present your case in person.

You will also gain valuable experience that you can leverage for other opportunities.Speaking from personal experience, I have several STR rentals in California (I co-own STRental Pros in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and Riverside County).

They want to live near the campus, bars, wherever the action is!

I actually had to get enough units where I could offer tenants multiple housing options when I purchased properties rented at way under market rates and then (an embarassing number of times) personally watch tenants that would "suffer" from a rent increase turn down smaller (but nicer places) or  nicer places in a less prestigious zip code (sometimes only minutes away) before I realized that I was hampering my ability to earn a living in order to subsidize the lifestyle choices made by a some random stranger that happened to live in a property I bought.

Ideally, my buyers are fully employed and financially liquid foreigners - be it from the US, the UK, central and northern Europe - either a single person or a couple with 0-1 kids, looking to live there right now, rent it out as an investment and then sell it, or use it as a future base for retirement.

It's like a person who has serious stomach issues but refuses to go to the doctor because they're afraid they'll be given a terminal diagnosis.

I use Travelers and had insurance on the landlord, dwelling and personal property level (because if the place is furnished by you, you have to have insurance on it) and they didn't cover anything.