Quote from @Bill B.: 1) I think it’s “funny” that not one news article I ever read for the last 5 years had headlines like “Housing at historical record lows!

If you have to do an ARM, have a Plan B to pivot if you need to sell or refinance. 

Ok...I was searching here b/c I have the same question. 

@Jeff SkinnerRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

One of the biggest challenges of investing in Rustbelt cities is knowing where to invest and properly understanding the cooresponding pros & cons.Here's copy & paste advice we share to help to address this challenge:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a Class A property in Class D area, what quality of tenant will you get?

Had an issue with trying to self-permit a build a few years back that was an HPR but had an "A" and "B" designation.

@Kendric BufordRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

Quote from @Bill B.: My GUESS is these homeowners have been tricked/screwed in to signing a long term power purchase agreement, often with no buy out provision.

The only other options I can see are A) your mom partnering with you rather then selling the property to you - you become 50% owner and bring the funds and management to the rental while she provides the existing equity as her contribution; or B) your mom lending you the rehab cash out of her personal funds while also seller financing the house to you. 

The home is in a B class neighborhood, in a good school district, and walking distance to parks.