But then you have the benefits of using it yourself, plus you'll build equity if you choose the right property.

These properties can appreciate in value and offer tax benefits like depreciation and mortgage interest deductions while financing terms are often favorable.

@Jason Burkart To maximize tax benefits, consider buying the property as a rental and leasing it to your mother at fair market value (FMV).

But almost zero percent of NOD owners can make it through the selling / moving out process go get this benefit. 

If you plan to own real estate for a lifetime, this can be a huge benefit to your heirs. 

It will familiarize you with the basic terminology and benefits.

And quite frankly, there might not be a benefit of refinancing for a while.  

Whether you sell and simplify or hold and continue to benefit from appreciation, it’s about aligning with your long-term goals and lifestyle.

I am sure many are actually purchasing real estate with these unsecured loans but the investors are not really benefiting from the real estate, they are merely making a fixed return and providing inexpensive equity sources to those who actually own the real estate.

.- Depends on what you're doing specifically, but usually I'd recommend getting an EIN at least to give access to business bank accounts- Repeating #1, if you're going to a property and 100% of your time is spent doing renovations and the like, sure, but if any of it is for personal benefit, that'd be disallowed.