Having the EU ban these devices makes me think even longer at deploying these devices throughout our properties.

Have cash and have investors with cash ready to deploy.

Otherwise, if you plan to dabble in real estate but really value having a well diversified investment approach, then you might want to keep those funds in your 401K and deploy them into something other than real estate.So, the net answer goes back to the original point: a 401k is not safer than real estate investing for the same reason you point out, and ultimately the answer to your question completely depends on YOU :) 

@Steve Osowicz What path you take will be determined by a few factors including how much capital you are willing to deploy, for how long, how much active involvement you want on this property and what financing is available to you for each option (among other things). 

I was looking for properties to buy but that joined the army reserve and am now deployed, so I consider it time to learn everything I can.

I plan to make my next move in 6-8 months during my deployment.

Many calculations surrounding returns are based on fancy financial mathematics and university style formulas, but those of us who are in the trenches know that it is critical to separate two entirely different realities.First there is deployed v. not deployed capital.

Having investors to buy bigger properties eliminates 90% of my competition for product, gives me better cash yields, and appeals more toward the investment end of property purchase analysis instead of the, "Making it look pretty" end.I think having a handful of buy-and-hold SFRs to reduce taxes and provide for an inflation hedge is a good next step for deploying your fix-and-flip funds.

Capital that is not deployed is opportunity wasted.

We have a private equity fund for NPLs and just deploy our new investors capital when received.