I do not accept couples renting their first property together, friends sharing rent, applicants from out of town, credit below 650, less than 2 years employment, pets.

 I have a potential tenant but I am having trouble verifying employment.  

Some other ones we reached out too was upstart.com but you can't be self employed.

I am just looking for suggestions on how to get started and if I’m employing the correct strategy.

One of the benefits to the SDIRA is that almost ANYONE can do it, regardless of self employment, etc....

You more so since you are not "employed".  

@Bosko MijatovicMy wife is a W2, I am self employed.

The exact application can get complicated and there are many exceptions (e.g. restrictive covenants in employment contexts have special rules).

@Adrienne Medina,You should establish truly self-directed Solo 401k plan (you qualify as self-employed and it has several major advantages over self-directed IRA).

Knowing that I wouldn’t meet any of the requirements for other forms of funding (no previous deals & recently self employed) I would consider myself a much higher risk investment then either of you.