You can open a Self-Directed IRA and use the IRA funds to buy a house using a Non-recourse loan. 

Did you close this with a hard money loan?

Any good resources for learning about hard money loans?

@Kwanza P.Leveraged means using a loan (leverage) to buy the asset. 

Registration fees $800+ SOI $50 fees California and legal stuff-keeping it simple-easier to refinance a SFR if decide to just BRR and cash out refi in my personal name versus trying to get loan in LLC name. 

Quote from @Jaikevis Reams: In order to put a property under contract I need to provide proof of funds I know that I can get that from a hard money lender but I don’t meet there criteria for a loan approval what should I do? 

If I got a home equity loan for Property 1 and used the proceeds as downpayment for Property 2 and then got a 2nd loan for the remaining 75% purchase price for Property 2, when I sell Property 2, can I use the Property 1 loan as part of the cost basis for computing Property 2 capital gains?

@Hank Bank BRRRR is probably want you want to do.Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refi, Repeat.Before you go all in and either find out you don't like being a landlord or you make costly mistakes, start with just the next one.You'll have some challenges with tapping the equity in the townhouse:1) What loan amount can you qualify with your credit & income?

If you close with a conventional loan, it will need to be in your personal name.

I doubt he'll be able to quality for a loan (VA) with just his income.