Investment nightmare is now my home..ready to right the wrong.

[Patty Fleming]

This is my first post so I apologize in advance because I am going to thorough in hopes of some helpful advice.

I bought my first home (condo) at an auction in 2009. Brand new construction where the developer had run out of funds towards the end of the build and he needed to bring the whole building to this auction. Although the condo looks beautiful, I did everything wrong...

  I purchased the property with 20% down 30 yr fixed at 4.5 interest. Once 80% of the building was sold, the taxes were adjusted - and tripled from the original rate! At this cost, it was not feasible to rent out and I moved in (was actually fine in my little rental where I could continue to save). 

I refinanced in 2013 since the value dropped to a 20 yr at 3.75. I wish I had known to just do a heloc then. I then paid PMI as well as paying a little extra towards the principle every month. As mentioned, I did this all wrong. I live in the nicest place in town. It is predominantly Spanish and I do not speak the language. I commute into NYC for work so the geography is desirable for this but not for the price, I could have more of a home with a yard...As icing on the cake - the shotty work behind the walls in the building caused a water sprinkler break back on Valentine's Day and I had to be evacuated. It has been eight months and I am Still not back in my home. The condo association is paying for repairs and this is a whole other shady story...

Here is my long winded question(s);

1. I want to know, would it be a good idea to take my name off this mortgage and move the deed over to a trust and then to an LLC that I plan on opening up. It has been such a nightmare that I feel I need a corporate veil before ever renting out my only investment.

2. The big question(s) 

Should I sell and just try to invest more wisely next time? I admit I have enjoyed the top line emneties but they are not required and I would probably enjoy them more if I didn't feel stuck. I do have about $50k equity presently.

Or should I do a HELOC for cash/rehab/wholesale investment or potentially as a hard money lender?

Or just refinance and get a 30 yr at a good rate and get some cash flow from rent? Would I be able to pull my present equity out if I do this? I feel like I lost out when I put 20 % down originally and the price dropped drastically and I lost money.

I don't want my original mistake to remain a mistake but I am not sure what is the wise direction. The mortgage payment + Maintance fees constantly increasing is too high to rent out presently and it is keeping me from having extra cash and keeping me stuck.

I am embarrassed by how bad this investment has been..everything that could go wrong did! Any advice would really be appreciated.  I would like to come back here in the future with this as a "remember when" story - sooner rather than later.

P.S. Lastly, would it be wise for me to open a ROTH SOLO B to attach to this potential LLC OR do I have to attach this to a separate LLC with no property to begin with in order to benefit investing through this vehicle?

Thank you for reading this all the way through and I am hopeful I can receive some helpful advice!

Best,

Patty