Switching jobs, want to invest retirement in real estate

[Chester Knapp]

I am switching jobs, and have the opportunity to take my employer matched retirement account (a Municipal Employees Benefit Trust, used in lieu of Social Security) to invest in real estate. I can rollover the funds into an IRA. Do I need to transfer the funds now into a self directed IRA custodian, or can I rollover to a custodian like Vanguard and then transfer to a self directed IRA later when I find the property I want to buy?

I am also looking for a financial advisor who can help navigate this and help advise on the best legal structure for a real-estate partnership using an IRA. I'm located in the Seattle area.