Follow up every year by adding to the previous year, and you have the ability to compound the use of your seed money in REI...which you can't do in the stock market.If I spend $100k in the stock market, and made a 15% return over the course of the year, I'd have $115k at the end of the year.  

Relatively small cost/time investment, and then you the ability to offer legitimate listing services to all your clients.  

Build your ability to spot a good deal quickly, and to estimate repair costs, so that you can make a decision quickly if the right deal pops up.

I buy triplexes and fourplexes because of the cash flow and the ability to get concentional 30 year fixed rate mortgages.

With that said you have to ability to acquire more rental properties and feed the system you have created with your PM.

Buyer must represent "financial ability to perform" (if not contingent on sale of home, etc.).  

That will put up a guard to keep your personal things out of any legalities done on your business and which is the way to go on forming a business,  Another thing you ought to get any financing so you can include in your offers,  That should make the seller more comfortable with you and your ability to close.  

(FYI: you have your whole plan rely on your mom's ability to make 60 rent payments to her Child and then be able to get a mortgage that she can not right now)There is no reason for you to accelerate the principal payments, if you are renting to her, you will need to keep a reserve for maintenance problems or capital expenditures.Why not get a place and rent it out to someone who is NOT your mom and see how that goes.

Does me living there affect our ability to deduct legitimate rental expenses? 

I am questioning whether or not I should use my ability to finance up to 10 properties per FNMA guidelines just because I can.