Stellar, I've been Army for a few years now and the VA loan is the best loan product available to buy a home. 

In my example, you are insured to replace the HIGHER quality product what was in the house before it was damaged.

Renting to your mother would make it an investment property and eligible for a 1031 exchange.There is no statutory requirement for income production to make a property eligible for a 1031 exchange.  

I believe that having multiple properties can enhance the performance of each property I own.

Better quality product, better installation, and making relationships is invaluable if you plan to scale.

In other words, they don't really consider my projections for the enhanced (very enhanced) cash flow from the furnished operation.  

(the way the conventional mortgage was a root canal)I am probably going to pay cash for the property upfront and then finance it after the close, so I have some time to explore financing products. 

Please try to suggest products/services that you have used and like. 

(We personally do portfolio and single property loans and will be adding a HELOC product soon!)

Your tenants are customers, properties are your product and reputation is your brand.