Good stuff...I'm going to begin exploring options of ways I can rehab the garage to make it a little more functional and less of an eye sore.

Do you mean profile improvements like flooring, added bedroom, nice bathroom, new porch, restructuring of space flow, or splitting the unit into 2 functional rents with addition of a kitchen?

As a function of having a distressed loan there should be property inspections for property preservation.  

Hey Craig, if you knew more of the basics of RE the flow of transactions would be more apparent and you'd know what activities could be processed simultaneously and the priority of functions, so you could see who does what when.

But craigslist has a map function now so I will continue to post there...use very specific search terms so tenants can weed through the junk posts.

The mother has "functional dementia" so she cannot make any decisions. 

If it is functioning illegally, it doesn't matter what method your appraiser is using.The listing agent might be referring to a lack of good, arms-length, non-REO comparables.  

Certain functions hire from MBA programs other more so from the Masters in RE.Happy to answer any specific questions you may have.  

Provide a functional space to live in (sturdy but nothing fancy in case they trash the place) and stick to mostly cosmetic updates.My preferred areas for MFR's are Watertown, Newton, Waltham, Natick or Arlington.

They spend a lot of time, and do a great deal of work to come up with functions that are helpful to investors[ and make doing deals easier.