I am seeing that the older homes needing renovation are cash flowing and more negotiable than a turn key product. 

If she chooses to retire at 65 and stop being productive, then she should reduce her living expenses accordingly instead of expecting the government or her Landlord to make things easy on her.My mom is 76.

My vote is to get a minimum viable product.

Some of the big variables are the product type and thus the likelihood of risk manifesting. 

Hey I'm looking for any creative renovation financing products out there.

When you say over-funded a lot of times people are talking about over funding an IUL which when taking loans against can be a very dangerous product.

Short-term rentals / AirBnb also entice me for this reason, but I imagine maybe the Jersey Shore would be better for that, and Airbnb seems to be in the headlines nowadays for all the wrong reasons.

Also if you are raising rents by 40% in a down economy with rental rates starting to soften you will need to differentiate your product and keeping wall panels is not a differentiator.

Don't get busy doing the administrative work do the productive work is more fun.Regards,

Rates, fees, loan products and guidelines are not the same lender to lender.