Do they have any special restrictions on the type of dwelling they finance?

And one last side question unrelated to my situation...Can I buy real estate that has a dwelling with the intentions of flipping the property to get a positive return using the money in the Self Directed IRA?

I would seriously recommend that you look very closely at the property as you maybe sitting on a revenue stream that could make taking care of your mother easier. 

And one last side question unrelated to my situation...Can I buy real estate that has a dwelling with the intentions of flipping the property to get a positive return using the money in the Self Directed IRA?

Taxes are part of the rent to live here, a city that offers a lot of jobs and might as well call them well-paying jobs.I sell houses every day, and due to universities and hospitals in Downtown alongside all these above-mentioned companies, I see a huge stream of incoming people, and all making a lot of money.When I buy houses, my focus is on the cash flow.

If the logistics of the property allow, why not treat the garage as it's own income stream?

It really all depends on whether or not you willing to bank on placement fees or want a stronger recurring revenue stream to fund your business.

If i were to give myself advise from 3 years ago:1) Don't wasted your first home purchased of 5% down on a Condo2) Jump right into Multifamily, 3 flats and bigger3) Using FHA loans ASAP vs 20% down conventional all the time4) Don't be afraid to use others money5) Go to more meet ups and build your contacts with like minded investors. 6) Push to start a PM company (another revenue stream) 7) Don't talk about investing to your corporate co-works!

They do not have any w2 income, however they have all these other streams of income from various sources, charity groups, SSI, state or federal government funds, child support, alimony.

But I’d like to build a “passive” income stream that I can grow over time to supplement my earnings and provide a safety net of sorts.