Max out Roth IRA or reinvest into real estate property?

[Eric Samuels]

So the first year house hacking my duplex is almost up and to account for the amount of work needed on the property I decided to pause my contributions to my roth IRA and TOD accounts I have with a financial advisor. I think total I was contributing around $600 a month. Right now my property is vacant besides me and am in need of a tenant but I'm working on that. I reeeally want to get back to the point where I'm maxing out my investment vehicles I have with my advisor but also really want to continue contributing to improving this duplex because it's old and still needs a fair amount of work. One year off from contributing to my roth is definitely affecting my compound interest but budget wise once I get a tenant my savings rate will go back up to around $1600. Would it be best to contribute to my roth or should I continue putting money back into my duplex?

[Bill B.]

Can you put the money in to purchasing another house hack? Putting the money in to the duplex only makes sense if it makes it safe, or allows you to charge more rent. 

The day I started investing earl estate I stopped contributing to any stock retirement accounts. They don’t cash flow, real estate is almost as tax efficient, it doesn’t have RMD’s, it’s passed off to heirs tax free instead of regular taxes being due, it can be borrowed against long term for tax free funds. I don’t know what stock retirement accounts do better other than if you get an employer’s match. 

I wouldn’t even think about retiring with $1 million in my retirement account. But I retired way before I had $1million in real estate equity. You’re piling up all that money so you can pull it out to live on and hoping you die before you run out of money. With real estate you’re never touching the principle so it’s always growing.