Have been reading that a solo IRA would be a better vehicle for purchasing property as the property can be leveraged with a non recourse loan and not have to pay tax on the gains associated with the loan portion at the “trust” tax rates.

Pledge your vehicle or some asset as collateral to the investor.

I wouldn't cashflow enough to fully pay the mortgage, but I feel this would be a good vehicle for me to build equity and then in a few years I could use the equity in the townhome to help me finance a duplex. 

We had a tentative deal on a 24-30 unit apartment {I forget precisely how many off the top of my head) a few years ago when the Phase 1 discovered abandoned USTs on the property.  

I have long desired to find an investment vehicle for myself and my family.

Have you ever used raw land as an investment vehicle?

I am simply a deal maker who understands precisely his role, real estate matchmaker.

My RE vehicle is Multi-family (Duplex, Triplex, etc.) and/or apartments buildings/complex (50 units and up). 

Codes might consider it an "inoperable vehicle" I don't know, if you go down to ask let us know what they said. 

Since they are exchange traded, like a stock, they will fluctuate in price and are not precisely tied to the NAV of the index.