Mortgage bankers will consult you based on your overall long term financial goals.

Any advice on what my mother could do financially with the sale income without buying another property?

They will need to see the last few years tax returns, bank statements for the last 6-12 months, pay statement, and probably have you fill out a personal financial statement showing assets and liabilities.You don't want to wait until you have something under contract to do this.

What would you do with/where would you put the money to work (real estate or not) if you had aspirations of being financially free in 10 years?

If a lease states that no alterations are to be made to the property without written permission, is this grounds for eviction?

Perform your Due Diligence, Review the Financials and Budget, Reserve Study, ByLaws and Rules, Is it Rentable, What are the Board Members like, FHA Financing Available, etc. 

Here's one. http://www.getricheducation.com/project/163-home-e...Basically, done right, instead of parking your money as an equity (paying off your mortgage), use that money to buy more houses, and you'll be financially ahead. 

Hi Liz,I think that this goes back to a basic financial concept of risk and reward. 

(that phrase may already be trademarked but I have no financial interest in capitalizing on it... it's just sound advice!)

So if I understand you correctly, you usually know about what you want to pay prior to seeing detailed financial info right?