Go through an EXCROW company to close the deal because they will handle everything and get your SELLER DEED of TRUST correct for legal ease.

We were looking for a house hack and expected to find something vacant that we could ease our way into after a refurb etc.

My biggest recommendation would be if your neighborhood/CCR's allow building a wall up the yard to totally separate it would be best to ease your concern. 

I will keep easing up on the rent every year.

Condo's would otherwise be helping to ease the housing crunch right now.  

@Luke Gates And that's not to mention how beneficial this type of living is for the environment and for affordable housing.

Plus you living there will ease their minds a lot too.

Buy and put in the bedroom a new Lay-Z-boy for her and a small love seat for you and your husband to sit and visit with her.Get a big flat screen TV and mount it on the wall where it can be seen from the bed and the Lay-Z-boy.Install a ceiling fan with a remote, and some nice curtains that you pick out.Then ask her what she has (pics, a small side table, magazine rack, book case, mementos she want in the room, and what she should like to have stored in the garage.Put grab handles in the shower and on the toilet sides and make sure the bathroom lights are very bright.Buy a NEW safe easy to use for an old person space heater that blows air.Get her set up with the local meals on wheels so she has something special to look forward to every day (and to ease your chores), and make a weekly chore out of keeping her space very cleanly.Be careful of in-home and home visit elder care personnel, some have sticky fingers.And respect her wishes for privacy, but don't neglect visiting with her when she wants it.Good Luck!

I’ve become a certified mentor with EXP Realty as  it’s very important for a new agent to have a ‘go to’ person, particularly in a cloud environment!  

You don't want the dual agent create environment where you believe you are in a bidding war - against yourself.