Here's a good rule of thumb:Your money in an account with your name on it = cash offer.Someone else's money that you have to borrow = financed offer.

What specific resources did you study that helped you with your development? 

If you don't have one already, get an accountant who knows REI well and go over the details with them.

I've also have done a little learning about SD Accounts too.I think all of what you said is true but you may have to buy it in your own name them transfer to the SD-IRA account name but you must understand that any profit stays in the tax-deferred account to be income tax free and not penalized.   

When I reached out to a lender the other day about pre-qualification and pre-approval, I told her how much money I had in my bank accounts and she said this wouldn't be enough money for the down payment on the price range of properties I was looking at.

I like the fact that it accounts for so many potential expenses. 

Almost every lender will require replacement cost valuation, as opposed to "Actual Cash Valuation," which takes into account depreciation.

You could ask your accountant if taking that hit in taxes would help take care of some potential capital gains taxes.

I've been building up my brokerage account with Robinhood for the 3 years I've been in the workforce along with funding retirement and savings accounts.

I just started studying to become a real estate agent, and I live in the Woodbridge area myself.