@Gary KaneSelf-directed IRA allows you to invest in non-traditional investments such as real estate.

Ok, if I understand everything I need to do correctly (from the above answers and other info), this is my plan so far:To do now:Set up a Solo 401k (with Mark, Brian, Dmitriy, or someone).Set up 6 bank accounts inside the 401k: "pre-tax", "Roth", and "after-tax" for me, and those same three for my wife also.Rollover my Traditional IRA funds to my "pre-tax" 401k account.Rollover my wife's old 401k funds to her "pre-tax" 401k account.In-plan rollover of both of our "pre-tax" 401K funds to the "Roth" 401K accounts (tax will be owed).2016 Employee contributions: Transfer $18k from my business account to my "Roth" 401K and $18k to my wife's "Roth" 401K.Also transfer a small amount from my business account to my wife's checking account as the remainder of her pay (maybe $2k).

It's a traditional 401(k) plan covering a business owner with no employees, or that person and his or her spouse.

And most agents are simply terrible at understanding or discussing non-traditional purchase options.

Or are they financing using traditional products and financing the renovation out of pocket?

Obviously very new to all of this so I know it may take me a bit to figure out what I really like, but initially I know I want to get into buy and hold, and I would love to do that with more of vacation rental style vs the traditional buy and hold.

As in other startup companies or traditional businesses?

It's a traditionally very low income neighborhood.

Crystal,You could use the BRRR strategy, which involves using a hard money lender to buy the property and then rehabbing and renting out the property and ultimately refinancing with a traditional loan.

If there are too many renters vs owners traditional financing becomes nearly impossible or if HOA doesn't have enough money in reserves or enough liability insurance then its most likely that financing won't be possible.