@Scott McGillWe refer to these type of units as mother in law suites.

My mother is turning 65 this year and is no longer able to work because of health reasons.

That was your choice, not mother nature or something out of your control.

Here's the issue: The home belonged to the wife's mother, and the wife inherited it.

My mother and father have been divorced for over 30 years. 

His mother who was a realtor brought him a non listed lead and told him it was worth $XXXX based on recent comps.

If your area is really high priced you might want to look at states like Georgia and others where rents received compared to price paid and value add to increase sales price down the road is better.As long as you buy correctly in the beginning I do not see anything wrong with leverage.My mother-in-law has 150k equity sitting in a paid off house.I could turn that into much more for her but she is scared of the risk.The money sits there doing nothing for her.

As Jon suggests, let the mother know she is to be a new tenant, "IF SHE CAN AFFORD" the property.

I am trying to get a handle on making a Power of Attorney so my mother doesn't have to be at closing; While she was expecting 50% at closing, I may have convinced her to accept far less, so I'd like to include agreed to amount in Power of Attorney, so she doesn't feel I am trying to get away with something!

I am a single mother of two and have been interested in investing in Real Estate for some time now.