If a lender wants to see $1,000 worth of work completed, they can hold that in escrow after closing and release those funds after you provide photos of the completed work.

The idea that you can build wealth without putting any money into it is a recipe for disaster and the sales pitch of gurus trying to steal your money.

We have always been buy and hold investors, but have tried to dip our toe into some flips and doing some property management.

We plan to hold our primary residence and rent it out.

@Jose LealBRRRR property investment involves purchase price, rehab, holding, and refinancing costs.

I agree with the remote being a bad idea, I used one once in a bedroom with no wall switch at all for the center ceiling light, but I fixed it permanently in the wall holder that came with it. 

No the one year occupancy is not just ignored for the seller.No idea what Mom's income, credit and assets are so cannot tell you if she helps your profile or not.

This is a bad idea.

They have no idea where the property is, how much rent it’s bringing in, or what it’s worth.

On a DSCR refinance, you can hold title in an LLC, however a person will need to be on the loan (not an entity).