While it is true that you can't provide a personal guarantee for a loan to an IRA, you can still leverage it using non-recourse financing.

My #1 piece of advice is to make sure you gather true apples to apples bids, that account for the entire scope of the project.

I know regulations change almost by the quarter so what is true now is probably different last year. 

That is not true. 

My 10 year goal is to build at least $20,000 a month in passive income in order achieve some financial freedom, but I also see real estate investing as my true passion post military.

However if this is an appreciating market, although your monthly cash flow might be neutral or negative, you may over time actually have what we consider phantom cash flow, which is gained through appreciation and tax benefits. in most cases, if you need true “cash flow” use the simple one percent rule.

The same is true here, but in the new arrangement it is only more transparent. 

While many commenters suggest there is a 6-month redemption period, that is only true for Mortgage Foreclosures NOT Tax Foreclosures.

Actually, and this is true, if they ask me to fax, I give a super believable impression that I don't know what they're talking about.  

While I have found this to be true in several cases, I would suggest making some hard money contacts while still looking for properties.