A mere "pet" must either stay home or charged extra for. 

Often times you will pay much more in taxes than if you pulled the money out, paid the taxes and penalty and then started investing in real estate.For example, with the financing you mentioned, the IRA must pay taxes on the portion of the profit earned by financing. 

I lived in a college town and student rentals did very well as did STRs for parents coming in to visit their children.  

I am visiting CC later this month, and will call again this week. 

I actually enjoy visiting there from time to time. 

Though my last visit turned me off with the traffic and prices.

I’ve visited every other property I’ve considered in the past, so this is uncharted territory for me, and it feels a little out of my comfort zone.I’m considering putting it under contract sight unseen to lock it up, but I don’t want to make a rookie mistake here.I'm looking for some advice here.

-We visited in December. 

This targets family’s between homes, either because they just moved to the area; have a definitive time work contract; current house is being rebuilt/remodeled/repaired; students with “rich” parents; recent separated/divorced who needs space for children visits; Houston medical center stays; etc.  

Visiting 3 projects in Columbia tomorrow.