What that really means that I can't claim the suite as a separate apartment (a.k.a. not a duplex); I could not add a range/oven for cooking.

We spoke on the phone and she claimed, 'she didn't know what she was signing.' so we agreed it was okay to pick up with Feb 1, I didn't love this, but fine, you beat me for January.February first came and went, same thing.

my wife would assume the loan, and quit claim deed her mom off.

It sat vacant for 2 years while being fixed due to a small kitchen fire and the need to seek a public claim adjuster.

is dropping one property due to too many claims in a short period.

As to your primary residence exemption, if you don't live there and you claim primary residence exemption that would be tax fraud.

You can do this after you close on your property just keep in mind not all loan programs allow to close or Quit claim into an LLC. 

- or should I have the owner of the unit below me file a claim with their insurance?

Initial Jobless Claims fell another 9K last week and came in at 323K which was better than the consensus estimates of 330K.

If you take the rewards in cash back you need to claim it as income.