For purposes of this section, “electronic funds transfer” means any transfer of funds that is initiated through an electronic terminal, telephone or computer or magnetic tape so as to order, instruct or authorize a financial institution to debit or credit an account but shall not include any transfer originated by check, draft or similar paper instrument.

You will have greater luck finding an individual willing to do this before a lending institution.

The closing costs also reflect escrow costs that should already be in place from the current mortgage as I am refinancing with the same institution that has my first mortgage. 

I don't plan on participating in the rehab process as much, but may help out here and there(transporting materials back and forth from home depot, etc).I know that home depot also has trucks you can rent as well, so that's another option.Either way, I have no idea of what goes on from the investors perspective during this process and was wondering if it was worth it to purchase a larger vehicle...Thanks!

For affordable housing, I would suggest looking into the local chapter of ULI (urban land institute).

By bringing your personal savings you are enabling your IRA engage in a transaction it otherwise not able to participate, this would be considered "prohibited" by the IRS.If you wish to stay out of trouble follow advice of @Daniel Dietz: make sure each transaction your IRA is involved with is "arms length" (no "disqualified person" is involved in the transaction). 

Some sometimes soft money real estate insiders, like members of boards of directors at large institutional investors, might also be good contacts because they're often well-connected. 

I guess our general question is: does joint ownership with eligible VA Loan participants, good credit, low debt give us more purchasing power?

Private lenders who you have not worked with will likely want you to participate in the funding unless it’s family or friends.  

You might search the curricula of real estate masters programs to see what texts they use, or search within the Urban Land Institute publishing arm.