Seeking advice to help my aging father

[Brendan August]

This is my first post so forgive me if I make any mistakes but I am looking on a way to help my dad out. He currently lives in an aging home that needs a new roof and a number of other upgrades to get the home up to a condition that a bank might finance for a new buyer. I have included links to the home below. 

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3219-Pinehurst-Ave_Pittsburgh_PA_15216_M37134-36481

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Pittsburgh/3219-Pinehurst-Ave-15216/home/74771233#public-records

Some of the options I can think of:

1. He could get a hard money loan or a second mortgage on the house and have the improvements done and then put the home on the market. Properties in the neighborhood are selling at an extremely high volume, however he would still need to live in the home during the renovations and this might be tough. 

2. He could seek somebody who is buying properties with cash in any condition and then pay off his mortgage on the house and let them make the renovations. He could then use the remaining money for a down payment or for rent. 

3. If there was any way I could have this be my first investment property that would be great as I feel like it has a lot of potential, however I cannot figure out how to best set this up? I do not have enough available cash to compete with any offer a cash buyer could provide. Is there any creative way I could obtain the property and take out a hard money loan myself to have the work done and then resell the property myself? Any advice would be great. Thanks!