Anytime the homeowner tries to get any info on the second mortgage they just transfer him to an infinite hold.

Transfering your debt to gain 2% is fine but not solving the problem.

Also partially the reason for the refinance as Wells Fargo will not transfer the mortgage to an LLC. 

In either case, you should verify that you are eligible to transfer the funds from your existing retirement account (e.g. if the funds are in your current employer 401k, you will likely not be able to transfer until you quit your job). 

. - In December, after promising he'd repay the money owed (everything is by email so I have it in writing) I received a $1000 e-transfer from his wife (right before they separated).

Before he died we filed a transfer upon death deed and were told upon his death I would simply go to the court house and the transfer would be completed.

to protect before it makes sense to spend that money - compare that with how much you spend in annual insurance for the same property/equity (on the same FEAR principles, just in case your property might burn down).Again, this is a simplified rule of thumb, as there is a lot more to the LLC question - when to do it, how to do it, current mortgage, proper transfer to preserve title insurance chain, DOS, future financing, management, distribution of properties per entity, insurance, partners, etc. - stuff barely touched in current thread.There is no one-size-fits-all - the risk threshold is a subjective measure particular to each individual.

If there are roof supports on top of the wall you're wanting to take out, a support beam can be installed to transfer the load.It's really hard to advise you on this without some pics or seeing it in person.

If I transfer title after the purchase, it might trigger a due on sale clause?

@Edward Bowlby When you will refinance the lender will pay off current lender and rest  cash out funds will be transferred to your account.