The market is saturated and it's unlikely demand will increase substantially any time soon. 

If long-term, rebuilding the home could offer substantial future gains, but keep the high construction costs and California’s permitting process in mind.Mariposa homeThis emotional project has potential as a vacation rental due to its location.

The increased cash flow would make such a substantial difference in your daily life that not paying it off would be foolish.Outside of that, I can't see many reasons I would take a 15% tax hit to save 4% on a mortgage, which is really only effectively about 3-3.5% depending on your tax bracket.

I am not sure there is a point in taking it to a title company.

Compared to the recent pricing peak in May 2022, single-family home prices in Austin are down approximately 15%.For some broader context, here’s a chart of the median sales price of a single-family home in Austin over the past 10 years:As you can see, prices in Austin are still substantially above pre-pandemic levels.

Installation Costs and IncentivesAverage Cost: Residential solar systems typically cost between $15,000 to $25,000 before incentives for a 6kW system (suitable for an average home).Incentives: Illinois offers substantial incentives, including:Federal Tax Credit: A 30% federal tax credit applies to system costs.Illinois Shines Program: Provides Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) that homeowners can sell for additional income.Net Metering: You’ll receive credits for any excess energy your system produces, reducing your utility bill.2.

In addition to some of the great advice above, I would put some serious work into your personal household budget and building up a substantial (6 month) emergency reserve fund.

California Senate Bill 567 (SB 567) allows for "Just Cause" Eviction if a landlord will "Substantially Remodel" a property: https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/Tenant-Protection-Act-...

Multi-Family PropertiesStarting out, it's crucial to balance potential returns with manageable risk.House Flipping: While flipping can yield significant profits, it requires substantial experience in project management, cost estimation, and an understanding of the local market dynamics.

You really helped me out and I feel more confident in taking the next step!