Many would suggest against RE investing using retirement money but if you go into low risk opportunities it can be a powerful diversification method.

@Fulati PaerhatiA 1031 exchange is a powerful strategy to defer capital gains taxes and grow your rental portfolio.

With your income, you may qualify for an FHA loan with a smaller down payment, but buying now could limit your borrowing power and increase monthly payments.

Following Up + More details: @carolineOur utilities were also opened using an LLC but since the power had actually been shut off the problem mostly came from ICE sending someone out to turn it back on plus installing a new style meter (which had to be approved by our HOA but that was another matter entirely and not particularly difficult).Opening a bank account with BCR as an individual is easy and you can get an atm card in about 3 days but you will be limited to holding only a thousand dollars in it.

I have spent the last few years reading many books on real estate, taking real estate courses, researching, saving as much as I could, investing (to increase my purchase power) and finally feel I can begin my real estate journey this year. 

All the power to you!

I am also a huge fan of real estate and for the past 50 years there's been a way to combine both.By leveraging a Self-Directed IRA, real estate investors enjoy both the traditional advantages of property ownership and the additional tax benefits of retirement accounts, creating a powerful wealth-building strategy.

Very powerful strategy.

and where you could start with a house hack... which is the best and most powerful way to get started.now, should you buy a random, 'cheap' (supposedly) property in some random market you may never live in or have any connection to, before you're settled, just to own an investment property? 

Buyers have significantly more negotiating power.