Originally posted by @Greg O'Brien:@Tim Silvers where did you end up and how is it going?

I was told that the dilution of my original investment would be 21.8% if I did not participate.

My name is Montse, I’m originally from Spain, and I currently live in the Netherlands.

Say my original loan was $500K, my cost basis with improvements is $1M and I cash out refinance with a $1M loan (can I include the interest of the new loan into cost basis since it’s reimbursing me my cost basis)?

Hey @Mike Nelson, never assume anything about STR rules and regs.Here is the STR rules for Oak Park - https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/oakparkil/latest/oakpa...I would call the city and make sure it is legal for a specific property.Now regarding the famous person angle, sure it can add value to the property or as a STR, but for STR use, I would think you would need it to be in original condition with a lot of the furniture and knick-knacks that were owned by the famous person along with a bunch of photos etc featuring the famous person.If you buy a place that has been totally redone but was owned by someone famous but has no features or things that were theirs, then I don't see it being a draw. 

1.7 % of Loan Amount (Points) - $6,035underwriting fees - $1,400Are the above fees reasonable or not for refinancing a mortgage?

Quote from @Roger Flot: I was reviewing some renovated listings in my area and one indicated that even though the house was originally built in 1920, because of all the renovations bringing the house to current code, that you could get 2024 rates on insurance. 

Most likely the new lender is going throught the foreclosure process and typically will end up taking the property back.The original posters chances of getting this property back now is slim to none as it will be sold at market value.  

The statement that 90% of all fortunes were originated with real estate2.

However, the depreciation claimed while the property was a rental must be accounted for upon the future sale of the personal residence, which could increase your capital gains tax liability.The adjusted basis of the property (original cost minus depreciation) will be used to calculate gains or losses at the time of sale.