You'd collect the income you'd need to collect, and the property would appreciate just fine as well due to its prime location.But here's another alternative.

Also I recommend setting up an alternative email so your main email isn't getting blown up with properties and events.

Could you advice on alternative ways to invest in real estate in the US without using TK's?

I have been looking at alternative routes to purchase investment properties and can't figure out the best way to do so. 

I can borrow a very small amount from my 401(k) at 2.25% interest for a down payment or purchase, but given how hot my local market has been that won't get me very far until I can learn some alternative strategies.  

Alternatively, it's a rate bump of about 0.375% to 0.75%, depending on the weather, on top of the standard investment property bump.

Alternatively, I could "buy the place for exactly what's owed," or have my mom "assign" the loan to me, then take out an equity loan against the place to give to my sister as a downpayment, and I can pay off that equity loan with the rental income as well as pay back my mom's $300k.

I am usually home by 5pm with every Sunday off, as well as alternating Wednesdays and Saturdays off.

Nothing to do with the purchasing of real estate, obviously, but to help yourself out in the beginning and also as a potential alternative means of saving/making some extra money long-term?

As @Jay Hinrichs stated, the timber situation may have me in over my head as a rookie investor but it's never too early to have a few alternate strategies in my back pocket as my proficiency increases :) @Matt Katsaris, thanks for the heads up.