Your personal financial position will play on the right choice, are you retiring in 18 years or 8 years, and too much equity can be difficult and expensive to take out of the walls later on.I don't hold very long, at about 7 to 10 years the depreciation falls with less of an advantage, that means it goes up for sale.

From my research white seems to be the best choice because it's "timeless" any thoughts?

But the best way to do this is use an auto body paint about 140 a gal spray them with the color of choice( don't paint rental property cabinets white!)

I will counsel you the same as I do with my clients - be careful getting into rentals as a 1st foray in real estate investing unless you have sufficient cash reserves to handle unexpected expenses.

The key is to start with a sufficient security deposit and clear expectations defined in the rental agreement.

Seeing that I am not adding any square footage (in same total btu demand) ,  is it a safe assumption that the existing boiler will be sufficient even with 1 or 2 additional radiators?

IN Oregon Nope... you can get insurance but you can also have issues.. it won't be cut and dry yes no but it can be a problem.But I do know many other states title companies won't insure them... so your advice is very good.as for this scenario if there is plenty of time before the sale.. simply open escrow at your title co. of choice .. to a purchase and sale agreement that has the tax's being prorated at close .. and let the title co.. collect and pay the tax's in escrow.. sale is put off you get home with title insurance and all is well.

I wish Gurus would stop mentioning them as they are usually a bad choice. 

GO CELEBRATE EMOTIONS WHEN YOU SCORE THE BIG PROFIT AT THE END OF SALE OR REFI AT THE BAR etc etc lol.The bank will go lower, they always will go lower.Banks are down right retarded about money when it comes to an REO - they make bad choices financially from our perspective looking in, but that is what creates opportunity for people like us.A good deal......... depends on the ARV and trends in that area (comps) I don't know any markets in Illinois but nationally in compact areas if you can still get it bought 25-30% below the comps then that seems to be good.

Solid wood slab doors are more than sufficient, and not that difficult to get to fit standard sized doors -- would assume that is a 36" might cost you 120 bucks at a good hardware or door specialty shop.