The two times that I've been to the house, they have been polite  and the house was clean and orderly.Back House: 2bd - 1ba,  lady living there has been there 15 years (mother of current owner). current rent $550 and market being $700-750.

This is a MAJOR cat lady house.

Probably a slight loss after the second set of closing costs, and that's with the gamble that interest rates don't rise.Option 35.5% for commercial loan 65% LTV for cash out. $357.5k5 year balloon, 25 year amortization10% line of credit at prime +1One plus here, I won’t be paying interest on money I’m not using.A big concern is timing.

Unless you just really like gambling or have money to burn, in which case, by all means - roll the dice if that's your thing.Further - contractors and suppliers are SO damn busy these days with all of the construction going on around here that getting a renovation of any real scale completed correctly or a new construction job done is a very serious challenge in and of itself and takes a great degree of skill, care, TIME, connections, and probably some luck.

Would you really want to gamble on continued appreciation, instead of cashing out?

:sigh:Never been too found of these kinds of deals as there's just too little control for me to gamble my hard earned money.

... and since you enjoy gambling, be sure to sit at the high-stakes tables on your next trip to Vegas or Reno.

@Jerryll Noorden  cash out refi for someone who is brand new is going to be improbable any HML ( and I have been one for years) is not going to bite on this scenario.. you could just pocket the cash and walk. as a newbie as you self profess you will need skin in the game and probably 20% or more regarless of how good the deal is.. you may find a private lender who is not to swift just like the sellers are not to swift to leave such a huge margin on the table.. unless of course you just dealing with little old ladies who know no better or others who are not swift.I get it if the house is a hoarder house or major issues. so want to make sure the newbies following this thread don't get the idea they can do no money out of heir own pocket deals with HML becasue3 that simply is not the case.. and I would bet you will pay 4 points at least being new.. 2 points is generally for a experienced known borrower.did you close the ladie that would not get back to you and you have to drive two hours to see here?

There was an older lady walking her dog, I figured she might know something, so I boldly asked how long had the house been vacant and why does it have postings on it.  

One lady even pays rent a week ahead.