As our goal is for early retirement in 15 years :)You will love the diverse community and all the resources.

Here are some references for ambitious learners.Uncle @Bill G above likes to lecture.http://www.kapre.com/real-estate-coursesget the broker course books. aint easy.Bookshttp://www.amazon.com/Blacks-Dictionary-Standard-N...http://www.amazon.com/Examples-Explanations-Real-E...http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Estate-Terms-Barr...http://www.amazon.com/IRA-Wealth-Revolutionary-Str...http://www.amazon.com/Finance-Real-Estate-Place-Ti...http://www.amazon.com/Retiring-Right-Third-Success...http://www.amazon.com/NLP-Essential-Guide-Neuro-Li...http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0793136601/ref=sr_...http://www.amazon.com/about-Escrow-Real-Estate-Clo...I have been at this 32 years and I am still learning.Bill G I think is 80 something.

In addition to my mutual funds, I have $20k in a emergency fund and $75k in a retirement fund. 

Also self directed IRA would be great for retirement not the next few years.

Based on my research, limited real estate knowledge and non-existent experience I'm thinking of single and multi-family rentals to pay for my retirement and increase my monthly cash flow.

I owned a successful rental townhouse a few years back and would know like to invest in real estate to set up a passive income stream for when I retire.

I'm glad I did it to build a nice nest egg, but wish I had some more assets that were available to use.The Insurance and Primary Home equity are really the only assets I see as useable (my understanding, at least from the banker I am working with, is that retirement assets cant be assigned).Dan Dietz

Are you seeking a long term tenant, like a retired type or an employed tenant in that area, who is the target market?

They were nervous about retirement.

If you are correct on the value of the home she should be able to borrow enough to retire the first mortgage plus get a lump sum or a monthly payment whichever would fit her situation best.