I have recently been told that a property owner can qualify for a conventional loan (which requires the owner to occupy the property) by maintaining an office on the property.

The % of lot price in whole project makes a huge difference.I would ask for equity equivalent to ~150% of current fair market value of the lot.

Since I am fairly new to real estate, it is kind of a catch 22 where you want to save on the interest, but at the same time you also want to save for the next rental deals.

Maintain a decent cash reserves to cover vacancies, maintenance, CapEx, and mortgage payments encase of total income loss.  

Thank youlm@Thomas S  I haven't been able to find a lender with my lack of decent income to pull the equity out, but I am fairly inexperienced with financing.

@Bo EdmondThe best approach is to charge your mother fair market rent. 

There is no education that will compare with actually purchasing a property and seeing what it takes to maintain/operate it and be successful in doing so. 

I see it from their (the individual homeowners) side as well.If I am paying a membership to list a home - how is it fair for a PM to list one and then use that same listing to fill dozens - possibly 100s of units off of one single listing.

This entire area is fairly affluent, but yes, my house would be near the lower end of the area. 

I'm pretty skilled at building maintenance and improvements, and between my own experience and the property manager I've got the business of running the rental properties dialed in fairly well.