The benefits to using available cash to fund multiples investments as opposed to paying all cash for one investment seem pretty self explanatory, but the largest benefits...especially in real estate...are likely the ability the spread risk across multiple investments and the ability to make multiple investments in a shorter period of time, allowing your cash flow, equity, and ultimately potentially your net worth to increase at a faster pace.To answer your question about traditional financing directly, yes you can obtain a traditional mortgage and put a large cash down payment down, essentially financing 'part' of the purchase price.

A wise investor will not try to get rich quick with shortcuts.

The deal may literally have to go in their name because of debt to income requirements from any traditional lender.  

I wanted to find an investment strategy that would provide more cashflow than a traditional long term rental, but I wanted it to be lower maintenance than a short term rental.

-I'd rather not go the traditional route with buying just because my W2 isn't exactly the most stable and i'm a full time college student.

Can I invest in a self directed Roth IRA or does it have to be traditional?

I quickly found out that some websites are just out to get rich off of other people. and others are very over priced.

If this is your first time investing in 5+ MFH, you might be able to get a financing with a tradition DSCR lender as along as its not over 10 units.

They typically do these types of non-traditional house mortgages.

Personally, I love anything by Robert Kiyosaki, with "Rich Dad Poor Dad" being the first of his books that I read.