Originally posted by @Brooks F.:I

Standup comedy, football, scifi, video games, hiking and astronomy are some of my favorite things; I also dabble a little in diy handy man space, everything from home repairs and improvement to automotive repairs and anything technology related. 

In my own case I have the cash; but the re-fi is the 'proof', so I am thinking of doing the re-fi anyway (and paying it off early) it is an important step to demonstrating what a lender thinks of what has been done for the value of the property.

Hoorah and Semper Fi

But once you re-fi, you pay your HELOC back and either close the account or use it again.  

@Sheila F. - I also have gone through the Yadkin to First National transition. 

Focus on building your wealth by re-fi your equity and investing in other areas (as recommended by @Costin Iorgulescu).

Hard money loan can pay off the original mortgage, then the re-fi will pay off the Hard money loan.

Acquire with hard money, fix, put in a render, re-fi/cashout then repeat.

I just discovered the fine print on owning my property in an LLC... you can't do a cash out re-fi through FHA.