This is my mother's house and the house I grew up in. 

Does the mother receive it on behalf of the daughter? 

Just to quickly name a few... rent-by-the-room, single-family property, with ADU or mother-in-law suite that you rent as a "duplex", short term rentals, and medium-term furnished rentals.

An opportunity presented itself where my mother and I have been offered a beach home to purchase.

My mother in law is a realtor and told me when I bought it I already had probably 10-20k in equity in the house due to the current real estate market and demand in our area.

Its a mother in law layout where downstairs tenants are paying $1700 a month (I've seen places rent for 2K+) at 900 SQ FT 2 bed 1 bath.

Here's the mess I'm currently helping my husband and his mother with:Mom, Rose, owns a lot in Pasadena CA that has 2 single houses.

Another way to get around finding a duplex that matches your budget, you can find a SFH with a Mother In Law and you can rent out the top and bottom floors independently to help you cash flow. 

Inherited a house from my mother 11 years ago and jumped in after researching landlord/tenant laws in Mich, but admit I make some stupid  mistakes and learning from them as I go.

There's a reason why the flight attendant tells the mothers to put on their oxygen mask before they put on their children's.