Following is some information regarding the self-directed IRA and the Solo 401k which can both be invested into real estate.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;Both are prohibited from investing in assets listed under I.R.C. 408(m); andThe 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 2015; 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.)

The fees on a rollover are minimal; meaning a good Financial Advisor who exclusively manages DST portfolios for clients will deeply discount.

The basics are that you open an account with a specific IRA custodian (Equity Trust Company, is one example).You can rollover funds from either a 401K or an IRA to initially fund the account.Once you have funded the account, you can use the IRA to hold a property within it.

I was thinking of asking the current renter for 5 min of there time, maybe even give them a gift card for their time, and get their take and any property history info they may have.Also, if everything else checks out, my plan is to use a HELOC to purchase it and then rollover to conventional financing in a 30 yr fixed.

Maybe only roll over half the gain.

You open an IRA (or IRA Rollover) and buy 100% of the shares of the LLC.

I want to rollover that traditional IRA into a Solo 401K, but I do not have a current business that would qualify me for the Solo 401K, currently.2.

Very quickly the Federal Debt starts to roll over and get refinanced at this higher debt level.  

@Brendan HayneA current employer 401k is almost always locked up until you leave the company or turn 25 1/2.There was a post on this topic just the other day that is relevant:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/51/topics/238097-roll-over-current-employer-401k-funds?

Hey Guys! The BP Podcast with Amanda Han on taxes last month really got the gears turning in my head. For anyone who hasn't listed to it yet... it's a great one! Episode 162 Now onto my question.. I have a traditional...