@Eric While I think the odds of a shooting war with China are low I do think a two system (two internets, two currencies, two great powers, etc) world is inevitable.

As currency loses its value and purchasing power, ownership of real property can be a safe haven equaling or even exceeding loss of purchasing power.Another point I'd like to emphasize is that their is substantial difference between various categories of notes; the note universe contains many different investment types and lends itself to many different strategies.  

Can I buy a land using self-directed IRA, then build using hard currency loan and finally refinance with a traditional loan when my primary house is sold?

Given the state of currency wars, current levels of debt, and impediments to widespread economic growth I put higher odds of interest rates being lower in 5 years then higher.

You need to understand the sellers currency and what they put the most weight on.There might be many more options open on the table than just the ones you mentioned.

These include: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) and the banking departments of various states also regulate financial institutions.Traditional Bank Cons:Possibly Lengthy Application ProcessStrict Underwriting Guidelines including financial documents to support debt to income ratiosLonger Underwriting Times that can go between 45-60+ days depending on property.Private Lender Pros:Fast & Easy Application Process due to being asset-based lender.Credit Score less of a factor as the weight is based on ability to make payments and not debt-to-income ratios.Generally quick funding turnaround between 5-10 business days. 

Hi BP, I'm a CPA, Berkeley graduate, aspiring entrepreneur, professional poker player, badminton athlete, crypto-currency enthusiast -- now interested in investing in real estate! 

There are lots of U.S.A. residents with ocean front summer homes along the cost line of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.It will be more expensive - real estate prices are significantly higher here than much of your domestic market - but at the moment you could convert currency and capture a 25-27% gain.The Windsor corridor probably makes the most sense for you, but if you decided you would like to look down east, let me know and I'll see if I can help.

In the 90s, the Asian currency crisis saw the value of people's stocsk and their money suddenly falling up to 80 to 90%.

Take the Forex Market( the foreign exchange market) where people buy and sell currencies.