The IRA component of a self-directed plan is the same as any other IRA when it comes to administrative issues like contributions, distributions, rollovers, beneficiaries, etc.  

Just opened the mail and saw my wife's 401K check for $150K that she's going to roll over into something or another.

I have a triplexnone of the units have washer/dryer hookupsgot 1st quote to install hookupswould be right where the refrigerator currently iswould vent dryer to atticthen i would put fridge on other wall (wouldnt look bad there)cost $1500 (plus washer/dryer price)other option would be putting in a portable washer you roll over to sink and connect tosuch as this:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UYSHMM/ref=o...However, do all the portable dryers needed to be vented to outside?

Any sweat equity work like repairs has to be done by a non disqualified party; therefore, you cannot do repairs on real estate owned by her IRA.The lenders listed on the following link will loan to an IRA or a solo 401k. https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/3441/51027-nonrecourse-loan-debt-for-self-directed-solo-401k-investment  Following are the similarities and differences between the solo 401k and the self-directed IRA.The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k Similarities Both were created by congress for individuals to save for retirement;Both may be invested in alternative investments such as real estate, precious metals tax liens, promissory notes, private company shares, and stocks and mutual funds, to name a few;Both allow for Roth contributions;Both are subject to prohibited transaction rules;Both are subject to federal taxes at time of distribution;Both allow for checkbook control for placing alternative investments;Both may be invested in annuities;Both are protected from creditors;Both allow for nondeductible contributions; andBoth are prohibited from investing in assets listed under I.R.C. 408(m).The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k DifferencesIn order to open a solo 401k, self-employment, whether on a part-time or full-time basis, is required;To open a self-directed IRA, self-employment income is not required;In order to gain IRA checkbook control over the self-directed IRA funds, a limited liability company (self-directed IRA LLC) must be utilized;The solo 401k allows for checkbook control from the onset;The solo 401k allows for personal loan known as a solo 401k loan;It is prohibited to borrow from your IRA;The Solo 401k may be invested in life insurance;The self-directed IRA may not be invested in life insurance;The solo 401k allow for high contribution amounts (for 2016; the solo 401k contribution limit is $53,000, whereas the self-directed IRA contribution limit is $5,500);The solo 401k business owner can serve as trustee of the solo 401k;The self-directed IRA participant/owner may not serve as trustee or custodian of her IRA; instead, a trust company or bank institution is required;When distributions commence from the solo 401k a mandatory 20% of federal taxes must be withheld from each distribution and submitted electronically to the IRS by the 15th of the month following the date of each distribution;Rollovers and/or transfers from IRAs or qualified plans (e.g., former employer 401k) to a solo 401k are not reported on Form 5498, but rather on Form 5500-EZ, but only if the air market value of the solo 401k exceeds $250K as of the end of the plan year (generally 12/31);When funds are rolled over or transferred from an IRA or 401k to a self-directed IRA, the amount deposited into the self-directed IRA is reported on Form 5498 by the receiving self-directed IRA custodian by May of the year following the rollover/transfer.Rollovers (provided the 60 day rollover window is satisfied) from an IRA to a Solo 401k or self-directed IRA are reported on lines 15a and 15b of Form 1040;Pre-tax IRA contributions on reported on line 32 of Form 1040;Pre-tax solo 401k contributions are reported on line 28 of Form 1040;Roth solo 401k funds are subject to RMDs;A Roth 401k may be transferred to a Roth IRA (Note that from a planning perspective, it may be advantageous to transfer Roth Solo 401k funds to a Roth IRA before turning age 70 ½ in order to escape the Roth RMD requirement applicable to Roth 401k contributions including Roth Solo 401k contributions and earnings.)

There can be no direct or indirect benefit to your husband or a business he controls.There is a program referred to as a Rollover as Business Startup that does allow you to take existing tax-deferred retirement funds and use that to capitalize a business that you are directly involved in.  

Please note that you are obligated to pay back their 401k (regardless of the performance of your real estate investment).Per the loan offset rules that went into effect with the 2018 Tax and Job Act: if you leave your job and the loan is current at the time you leave your job but then the loan goes into default because you left your job, you will have until your tax return deadline (including any timely filed extension) to make the loan current by depositing the outstanding balance into an IRA (and thereby avoid the taxes and penalties that would otherwise apply).If you are self-employed with no full-time employees & you can rollover the funds, you could set up a Solo 401k, rollover the funds and take a 401k loan from the Solo 401k.

@Sid ShankarIf your 401(k) administrator does not allow an in-service rollover, then you can not move the funds unless you end your employment with them.

I have also looked at others as well, but not as close.I am gearing up to leave my W-2 job in the coming months and have deiced to pull out my pension(which has been sitting there for the past 3 years, I can't roll over until I leave), and my 401k( I did the numbers with the penalties and taxes as well).

Will I be subject to the long-term capital gains rules, or since I plan to live in 1/2 of the duplex with it qualify as a rollover of equity? 

If you are self-employed with no full-time w-2 employees, you can set up a Solo 401k & rollover funds from a non-Roth IRA as a tax-free direct rollover and then invest in real estate.Solo 401k vs.