Realizing this type of rapid appreciation (or "forced equity" as some might call it) often requires a distressed or very poorly managed asset where a buyer can quickly and efficiently add value, raise NOI and convince a lender to finance the asset at the higher value.

I'm looking to learn a lot about selecting properties, estimating repair costs, minimizing tax impact (using retirement funds), estimating repaired resale value and another topics I come across that I need to know about before jumping in.

Any recommendations on good funding options for a beginner?

There are always alternative sources of funds.

The key is scale up using as little of your own funds as possible.

There are factors that play into those percentages such as what state project is located in, your credit score, funds you have available, experience, etc...

He was born in Knoxville, but raised in North Augusta, SC after his father took a nuclear engineering job there.

Problem for me is that I lack the funding to purchase a turn-key rental.

 #1 - Acquire a HELOC on the investment property (old forums stated PenFed has a product) at 70% LTV (Don't want to cash out refi, since I have a really good 1st mortgage already in place)  #2 - Take out the funds out of the HELOC and put into savings for 3 months  #3 - use the funds along with some of my other savings to acquire another multi with 70% financing.  

Not a legal advice, but AFAIK you cannot mix IRA funds and loans unless your IRA invests in a security and not in a property directly.