Self Directed IRA or Withdrawal my money?

[Phillip Scalise]

I have a Roth IRA, and was thinking of taking it out this year to avoid the penalty (CARES act) and incest into rental properties. I plan to then scale up using 10-31 exchanges to defer the capital gains taxes. I know a little about the self directed IRA option but don't like being restricted to retirement age for access. Is there a big difference between just withdrawing and investing outside of the IRA, using 10-31s, verses doing a self directed option? Any help is greatly appreciated.