A boutique firm is not going to provide the same training and resources like the national firms. 

My goals are to start my own REI business, to create passive income to become successful to where I can provide for my family and help my community and nation by giving away homes to help those in need.

There are only handful of national lenders who offer such financing, here is a list for some of the major ones: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/2810/50272-lis...You can also get a private loan from individual investors, just remember that loan must be non-recourse.

I don't know Worcester well, but i'd probably start near a place like Worcester Polytechnic Institute and drive around until things start to get less nice, then start writing down candidates.I see you're from Stoneham.  

The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k DifferencesIn order to open a solo 401k, self-employment, whether on a part-time or full-time basis, is required;To open a self-directed IRA, self-employment income is not required;In order to gain IRA checkbook control over the self-directed IRA funds, a limited liability company (IRA LLC) must be utilized;The solo 401k allows for checkbook control from the onset;The solo 401k allows for personal loan known as a solo 401k loan;It is prohibited to borrow from your IRA;The Solo 401k may be invested in life insurance;The self-directed IRA may not be invested in life insurance;The solo 401k allow for high contribution amounts (for 2016, the solo 401k contribution limit is $53,000, whereas the self-directed IRA contribution limit is $5,500);The solo 401k business owner can serve as trustee of the solo 401k;The self-directed IRA participant/owner may not serve as trustee or custodian of her IRA; instead, a trust company or bank institution is required;When distributions commence from the solo 401k a mandatory 20% of federal taxes must be withheld from each distribution and submitted electronically to the IRS by the 15th of the month following the date of each distribution;Rollovers and/or transfers from IRAs or qualified plans (e.g., former employer 401k) to a solo 401k are not reported on Form 5498, but rather on Form 5500-EZ, but only if the air market value of the solo 401k exceeds $250K as of the end of the plan year (generally 12/31);When funds are rolled over or transferred from an IRA or 401k to a self-directed IRA, the amount deposited into the self-directed IRA is reported on Form 5498 by the receiving self-directed IRA custodian by May of the year following the rollover/transfer.Rollovers (provided the 60 day rollover window is satisfied) from an IRA to a Solo 401k or self-directed IRA are reported on lines 15a and 15b of Form 1040;Pre-tax IRA contributions on reported on line 32 of Form 1040;Pre-tax solo 401k contributions are reported on line 28 of Form 1040;Roth solo 401k funds are subject to RMDs;A Roth 401k may be transferred to a Roth IRA (Note that from a planning perspective, it may be advantageous to transfer Roth Solo 401k funds to a Roth IRA before turning age 70 ½ in order to escape the Roth RMD requirement applicable to Roth 401k contributions including Roth Solo 401k contributions and earnings.)

Total Property Solutions Overview:-Focusing on renovation management of $20k+-Remotely managing a network of subcontractors dispersed nationally.

Houston was recently shown to be #2 in Economic growth (only behind San Jose) by the Brookings institute.

It's the area, I have yet to find a national provider for this area.

The Title companies are also the escrow companies and its all the national players..

I am not sure why so many people are against this method simply because some of the largest rental companies in the nation apply this method, like American Homes for Rent.