I've seen some differing view on if this is legal or at minimum troublesome so would need to consult an attorney when/if we get to that point.I'm thinking on $500k home 3% Option, 2 year lease option at today's market price + say 2% annual appreciation, so $520,000. 

You stated that you would like to use a minimum down payment of 20% which would be $10,800.00 on a purchase price of $54,000.00, on a 30 year Conventional fixed rate program with today’s rate of 6.0%.

It may not happen today or tomorrow but it will happen some day.I once had a tenant that worked at a restaurant and he offered to give me major discounts every time I ate there.

In other words, I have not started on anything but I do have books, educational platforms, Bigger Pockets podcast, (and possibly the lowest market in America........

I'm sure there is some value in taking a more personal route with the education, but it wasn't my priority.   

I work for a credit union and just checked today’s investment property mortgage rates.

Is mortgage calculated in a different way compared to mortgages that are taken for other purposes like an educational loan, personal loan etc?

Has open bar, free food, lots of education, and generally well attended with very little sales pressure. 

This means that if she gives notice to the landlord today, her current lease will not terminate until Dec 31 at the earliest.     

Specific advice: If you had 100k cash saved up today and you were a Newbie in Real Estate (with good risk tolerance, no kids or wife and in a safe financial situation where I can afford my basic needs and don't need to work for the next 3 months), how would you spend it?