It sounds intriguing and like it could be a another good source from homes since the MLS has been pretty dry lately/hard to make houses pencil out for flips.Is buying from auctions a good idea?

I am cool with the idea of buying it off market and listing it with a realtor on the MLS at a premium.

For example, you are not allowed to co-mingle personal funds with plan funds or work on the property yourself.I think that cashing out an IRA to buy rentals is not a terrible idea if you can get decent returns in your market.

The wholesaler had no idea.

I think investing out of state in a D area is a bad idea.

Alternatively, your sibling might use a 1031 exchange to defer taxes by reinvesting in like-kind properties, though this doesn't directly fund a primary residence.Other ideas include leveraging a HELOC on the rental properties for the down payment, taking out a 401(k) loan, structuring an owner-financed agreement, or a lease-to-own arrangement.

(And no, the "acquisition fee" or carried interest at the end of the investment are ******** answers to "most of my net worth is in the deal").When the investor, whether it's a 27 year old putting their first $50K or $100K into something, or a 45 year old worth $15M putting $9M into their business idea, goes all-in, that's when my ears perk up. 

Many of the horror stories I have heard and witnessed in real estate came from the notion that funding real estate with personal debt or credit cards is a good idea. 

The only time I'd say it's an okay idea is if either: The area you're investing in is expecting so much appreciation that you will easily profit off that (watch out for mortgage interest though...the appreciation needs to be higher than what you pay in that and expenses to make it profitable)You have some specific reason for wanting to do it- family ties, future home, major long-term hold, etc.Maybe I'm forgetting another one, but those two are all I have for now...

I have a clearer Idea of what you are doing.