Our posts crossed so I was not aware that your mother was fine with both options (payoff now or installment payments).As Jeremy posted, it now mostly becomes a math game regarding what is in your best interest but I would still weigh the value of 'making good' on the original loan from your mother.

The Huntsville market can vary widely depending on the street and there are some sellers who do not even have their own financials.  

I have seen a lot of this one BP were investors have no clue as to the repercussions of being a junior.. its OK if you know what your doing .. but for the average investor who has never lent money or new to the game junior position investing is highly risky for exactly the reasons splained above.  

I am new to this investing game.

@Danny Webber thank you I appreciate the truth and if I need to take more time building my cash pile to have more skin in the game by maybe wholesaling or just working than that's fine.

Wilkinsburg and Reagent Square (at least what some people on the MLS call Reagent Square) can vary wildly from street to street. 

Hi - completely new to the game of rental real estate.

Judging from the first few pages of the beginner's guide, I think we're looking at possibly doing some buy and hold strategies on single family homes and duplex/triplex/quads, since we both love our jobs and aren't quite ready to jump into the real estate game full time.The amount of information to read up on and understand is dizzying, and I have never so much as held a mortgage of my own. 

I got pre approved with a lender that requires seasoning but since I already have gone through the initial hard credit inquiry I believe There Is a 3 month time frame when I can “shop” around for other lenders without triggering a secondary hard credit inquiry is this correct or does this vary through the lender as well?

1 - DSCR just shows the lender the property can sustain itself and the rents cover the debt2 - Terms vary but will typically be 5-10 year ARM on commercial loans3 - 20-30% down is standard depending on the deal (SFH vs MFR) etc.