I'm also thinking of doing letters to expireds (thats where the training told me to start :) )  I was also thinking of getting a magnet for my car- still a little iffy on that- I'm a bit of a crazy driver :).  

Comparing IRA investments in real estate to real estate investments with after-tax funds is comparing apples and oranges.  

@Karyn T.Your comparing apples and oranges.  

Apples and oranges. 

You know, compare apples to apples, price existing properties on the market now so you can compare that to your estimated or calculated cost of new construction. 

Compare apples to apples by seeing what the furnace guys offer in terms of size and BTUs and all that stuff and then check out the big box stores to see who has the best price.

I think you are mixing apples and oranges here. 

Downside to rentometer is you can't see the original listing or property type or condition to compare apples to apples down to finer detail beyond bedrooms.

ONe of them owned 2 acres next to Apple headquarters on Stevens Creek blvd  ( it was his bar and restaurant for years)   just stubborn dude is all I can remember.

There are a whole lot of factors such as age, tax bracket now and in retirement, account value, investment goals, expected return....A point I frequently make to help folks clarify their understanding is that investing in real estate with qualified funds such as an IRA or 401k is entirely different from investing in real estate with after tax funds, and comparing the two is comparing apples and oranges as a result.The better comparison is how an IRA invested in real estate compares to an IRA invested in traditional assets such as stocks.