I see too many investors now, put a significant amount of money in rehab costs and over leverage themselves on hard money loans with low down payments, their properties are not selling and they are lucky to just payoff their current hard money loan via a DSCR refinance. 

If so you could run the numbers on taking a loan on the zero-debt property to pay off the other.I'm still unclear on the goals - you've brought a lot of other things into the equation (e.g. paying of high interest debt, STR as personal vacation home, stocks/dividends, etc.). 

5% down federal loan How did you add value to the deal?

Purchase price: $137,500 ($44,000 in to the property... loan at $101,000)Appraisal: $180,000   ARV: $195,000Est rehab cost: $7,500Scenario #1: 75% LTV cash out refi at 4.25%...

This works with any type of appreciating property such as real estate, stocks, etcDepending on the appreciation rate, you can potentially see asset values double every 7-14 years.Likely around 7 years if the appreciation rate is 8%Likely around 14 years if the appreciation rate is 4%If you buy something for $100,000 and it appreciates to $200,000, you can potentially take a loan on the $100,000 appreciation which would not be considered a taxable event.However, be mindful that you are paying interest on the loan and you have to payback the loan but yes, it would not add on to your taxable income.

Hard Money loan How did you add value to the deal?

Ask your loan officer if you qualify. 

However, after talking to some loan professionals, it seems that there are always origination fees, appraisal fees etc.My question is, what fees should I expect to pay when opening up my first HELOC.  

He pays seller's note ("outside" loan), and then the seller turns around and pays his loan ("inside" loan).

Of course they are also trying to "launch loan fund".