If you buy a house with a conventional loan and then use a personal loan or private money for the renovation costs, can you then do a cash-out refinance to consolidate debt (pay off the original mortgage and whatever debt was accrued for the renovations)?

No taxes were paid when the income was earned, no taxes are paid as value is accrued in the plan.  

Without understanding the details and I have no advise, only curiosity, why is the rent so low? 

The other continued to stall my refund by claiming to present to me dozens of so-called success stories, replete with these alleged victors holding up checks from their "awesome" deals.I was sitting around several days after by last defeat and got to wondering, staring at those big figure checks when my curiosity got the best of me.

@Jon Dorsey Out of curiosity Jon, did you close on this? 

Out of curiosity, are you looking to house-hack your first deal?

But the curiosity is killing me...So... what do you think this means? 

I was tinkering around on this site just out of curiosity.

I have accrued some knowledge from the BP podcasts and forums but I know I need to work on networking since I am still a bit of an introvert.

I have called several times to verify the 2nd is not accruing any interest or penalties.To make a long story short, I would like to see if we can make an offer to pay off the 2nd for a lesser amount.