Best 401k Rollover Option to Allow RE Investing

[Liz Ridgway]

As I grow more educated in the area of personal finance and investing, I am realizing that the $$ sitting in my 401k could be doing much more for me.  I am 36, $140K fully vested in my company 401k.  I do have other self-directed retirement accounts but prefer not to use those for real estate.

A) If I were to leave the company, what are my best self-directed rollover options that would allow me to invest in physical real estate (no REITs)?

B) Any suggestions on how to do an analysis on the best ROI between

- Leaving current employer for another company in order to roll my 401k (would experience increase in health insurance cost, would give up 22 days of paid vacation per year most likely for the standard 10 days, up to $20K reduction in annual base salary, etc)

OR

- Stay with current employer, grow base salary by 3%/yr, continue to invest the max 401k contribution to realize max allowable personal income deduction

Side note, I telecommute for a job in Baltimore, MD while residing in DFW, TX. I am still seeing MD state income tax but am having trouble confirming that this tax is valid.  MD is not one of the states that is known to tax telecommuters.  So, I could eliminate my income tax by leaving current job in favor of a local employer.

Thanks all, looking forward to the discussion!