I know that this post is all over the place and quite random but in a summary I want to make connections and learn about the local market of Edmonton and what it takes to participate in it.

Would love to participate!

It is  why I am taking the leap to pay for the full in-depth, personal strategy session with them.I am also starting an unrelated side business (ecommerce) for which I want some of my earnings to be invested for retirement into notes.So a lot to unpack, but I'd like to get the framework/foundation/structure of my investing set up right and move forward as smoothly as possible.I also continue to learn, reading books, websites and the news nearly everyday, listening to podcasts, watching note investor interviews on You Tube, participating in networking groups through Zoom and participating in mentoring calls with my investor group advisor.The two note investing trainings I took were extremely helpful and the materials continue to serve as valuable resources.I will say this-don't be in a rush.

Hard Money and larger institution lender-funds are built for making such loans.

I’d love to participate!

What would be the most contractually clean way to participate in the transaction?  

They are likely at a discount because they are in bad shape and could not be sold to someone using traditional lending institutions or there is some reason the property owner wants to liquidate their portfolio.

@Brian ArmstrongYou cannot borrow from your own IRA, but a Solo 401k can allow for participant loans.

There are institutional investor lenders out there that will lend at terms Somewhere between the bank and a hard money lender’s.

The lending institution, in order to even consider a short sale, will require that the property be listed on the open market by an agent.