Help me get this concept clear in my head, should I BRRRR and build a portfolio of 30 homes or build these one at a time as my other sources of income allow. 

I can't connect you with IRA/401k lenders, but certainly you can educate folks on this concept.

After a year of stress and headaches, he sold it off and swore never to invest in an area he didn’t know again.From what I’ve read in the Wall Street Journal, investing locally gives you a huge advantage because you understand the market firsthand.

Two syndications with 12% return, great management track records, everything the same except the deal itself.Everyone above has given you a good breadth of concepts, so these fit your concept of passive?  

I love this concept!

Buy one investment to prove the concept.

He was quoted in a recent Wall Street Journal article about one of the mentorship programs.

The more disposable funds you have each day/week/month you have a quicker balance payoff and less total interest will be paid.This is the concept atleast but yes the above should have the built in assumptions and if they didnt give it to you then it might be a bit misleading.

This fantasy is like thinking you will ever get better cost on items than Walmart, it's a childish concept. 

It is a simple question, one many of us see, but it is an advanced concept for flippers and knowing how to work within seasonality if it is a factor in your market.