I am wondering if it would be better to take an unsecured loan, buy, fix up and then roll into permanent financing.

But like any where else, run and stress test your numbers to make sure they work.

I'm considering rolling into an SDIRA and investing in apartments. 

Best way to gauge the tenant's in the building...ask for the rent roll (which is pretty common to request during DD). 

If the tenants are doing well, the financing is solid, and the deal flows now then I'd be comfortable going into it with good reserves.Buy, hold, roll!

And if you purchase an occupied property, ask to see the rent rolls to determine if the current tenants have been able to pay rents in full during the pandemic.  

I would advise you to disclose based on my knowledge as a real estate agent; lead based paint disclosures are required between landlord and tenant in all 50 states as far as I know.If you learned of the lead based paint from the sellers of the property (as opposed to purchasing it and then ordering lead paint testing yourself), the sellers might have liability to the tenants?

In this current climate , its a roll of the dice 

With all the pandemic stuff rolling around, there just doesn't seem to be as many deals to be had.Walmart has the Weber Genesis II S-310 LP in Stainless Steel for $562.68.

Professional tenants 'test' for these LL's and zero in on them.