When you transfer retirement funds into a self directed account you can certainly buy real estate with it. 

DM and I will point you in the right direction.  

Intensity, commitment and grit for a year that started far from any semblance of direction and accountability. 

Alternatively, some purchasers want to control the process in return for more certainty.For a non-delegated correspondent loan, the loan purchaser will get involved and direct all processing decisions.

It would be a direct sale with no brokers involved. 

Trump got significant tax reductions in his first term when essentially all demorats proposed tax increases.Of course, we don't want guess work, but we also don't want to ignore the direction that the tax policy will be headed.

Is using a self-direct IRA to fund this venture a way to defer taxes until retirement ?

I agree with calling the city/county and finding out directly from them. 

I can help with pointing you in the right direction of some good resources to help you in your investing journey! 

When I purchased my first large apartment building my real estate broker called 18 different banks until we found one that gave me the loan and I saved more than $20,000 by dealing directly with the bank and no loan broker.Then, as time went by, I got lazy and found what I thought was a terrific broker.