They also listen to authority figures still, well that's been my experience. 

The IRA owns the LLC, but you can be the non-owner manager of the LLC and have signing authority.

I'm wondering if credit card payments I make monthly to credit cards in my parents name (read I am not an authorized user, so these don't show up on my credit reports) would count towards my DTI formula when I apply for pre-approval then mortgage.

Capital gains add to your adjusted gross income, which could very well push him into a different tax bracket by recognizing them all in the same year.  

Can I require credit card pre-authorization?

That just means for tax purposes they choose not to recognize your LLC so everything is filed with your personal return. 

Direct Endorser means that the bank/lender has the direct authority to approve the condo by either approving a "Single unit" or the "Entire Association". 

He is definitely someone that I'd learn a lot from and quickly recognized him as a possible mentor.

A licensed electrician might have gotten at least an Electrical Safety Authority permission / certificate to conduct the work.

Have a family member who lives at the same address add you as you as an “authorized user” to his/her credit card and you will (almost) immediately have a credit score and a credit history, as the already existing credit card history will right away show up under your credit as well.