Sounds like a last ditch effort to shove in the maximum increase before the new law caps it at a lower rate for increases.

What I wouldn't do is put any effort into improving the property until you have the title.

I am even studying Mandarin (listening to it while in the car) and making every effort to learn the language.

Then you assess the cost and effort it'd take you to get it to be what you want it to be.

You have to get to know an area to understand how to maximize the income in order to see if it's worthwhile and be willing to put the effort/time in.  

After this month's holding cost payment that he sent late, I received an email from him saying that he will no longer be contributing in money, effort, or resources to these two projects.

Sure, it may be disappointing that they'll need to start scoping out a new place, but again, you've put in the time and effort to be in a place where you own a rental.

As a flipper, you're taking on risk and need to be compensated for that, in addition to earning a payoff that makes it worth the time, effort and expertise you put into taking a distressed property and turning it into a home. 

Originally posted by @Meir Greenblatt:My quick tip of the day is something I heard Today in Show 41.https://open.spotify.com/episo... you are in a tight schedule and you want your contractor to not go and take a lunch break that can last 2 hours or more, Then you can call the contractor and let him know that you got for them some pizza or hamburgers for lunch so they can stay on site and finish the job faster.How about trying to show up on Friday at lunch time with pizza and telling them you appreciate their efforts this week.

RE requires a lot of funds, timing and effort.