Loans are never basis. What you spend the loan proceeds on might or might not be basis.
In your case, if you spent $15k on improvements (renovations, appliances, etc.) that would indeed increase your adjust basis by $15k. The source of that money doesn't matter if it is your money. If it isn't your money ask again. If you also took a $15k loan, you cannot double count and get a $30k basis increase. Only what you actually spent on improvements.
Your basis also includes your purchase price in 2004 plus expense. It doesn't matter if you paid those costs in cash or loan proceeds or a combination.
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