Do you have an idea of the purchase price that fits your budget and/or what your mother is able to pay in rent?

Previously we accepted clients who were not a fit.

@Toby FellowsYou are correct, you need to ‘hang’ your license under a broker in order to practice real estate, and most brokerages require you to become a member of the National Association of Realtors as well.While you are preparing and taking your courses, contact several brokers and interview them to find out who might be a good fit.

Because they aren't traditional tenants in the sense with a 1 year lease and to determine fit for the house, I like to start everyone on 2-4 month leases and see how they perform.

Given your focus on equity and scaling for future development, targeting properties where you can force appreciation through value add renovations seems like a natural fit.

I have the contractors in my network so I feel a light rehab would fit well for the first one. 

I think I've found a property that fits my criteria at the right price, but I'm not totally sure on its ARV nor its rehab costs. 

.- Focus on Motivated SellersDon’t waste time chasing deals that don’t fit.

It all comes down to how many can you realistically fit.  

here's a good thread on it:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/899/topics/1110473-sett...you should do your own research and determine what fits best for you.