Start a document that outlines every system in a home and start compiling pricing information based on information from contractors (I used to be a GC and I'd rather give someone a price per SF over the phone rather than visit the property thinking they're ready to work), information from other investors, asking questions online, friends and family that have had work completed on their homes. 

There is some hands on exp but it’s mostly all theory and most of the information can be found online(I took a couple of electrical engineering classes) and to be honest the first thing most students do when they have any assignment and project is hop on Google....oh wow here’s the entire information or 90% of it and explained better....... most of what’s taught in school is now free online soooooo at this point it kind of makes you question traditional education since so much can be learnt for free or at a significant cheaper cost.

sounds like you have dealt with all the sharks.. if it takes a really long time to evict someone in that state your best bet maybe to let it go to foreclosure and if it bids up which it could if your buyers are already offering you whats owed. they would not do that if there was not equity above whats owed. your mom would get the overage as long as there is not junior debt.also since her credit is trashed and if you can handle her housing.. she can just stay as long as possible until she gets evicted and then just walk out the door..

And there is no way to fix that in a short online reply, sorry. 

But it's not AM Best rated and there's very little info about Lighthouse online. 

Oakland County has a nice online database you can access at Oakgov.com. 

I am looking for information to help me learn about buying homes from online auctions.

I've found that online reviews are almost always going to be skewed very negatively.

But having Boeing close by, I bet they have contractors that come in and need short term rentals.

Here are two quick and dirty ways: for the lowest interest rate get a HELOC on your home.Since it's a 5 unit you're facing commercial rates and are playing in the big leagues of financing which means you need a seasoned entity combined with personal guarantee for the lowest possible interest rate.You can buy a seasoned entity online (make sure it's in the same state) that has a 80 or higher credit score, move the entity to the property address, change all the credit lines to the new address, transfer the property into it, and get your credit score to 720+.Apply for a commercial loan if you don't want to go the HELOC route.