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 (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.)

Why I Believe Striving to Build Passive Income is OverratedThis may seem like a disingenuous statement coming from a passive income guy, BUT, I believe that those looking to build sustainable look term wealth would be better off to downplay passive income.Passive income has a role, a large role, but one best utilized when a certain level of wealth has been achieved, and the holder of said wealth is looking to preserve capital and live off the income generated by passive investments.I hear many relatively new real estate investors say that their goal is to acquire enough real property to replace their earned (W-2 or 1099 or Sch C) income with the income be generated by their investments.  

Should I be trying to buy a 3 or 4 plex to start or would utilizing a good chunk of equity and looking for a much larger investment like a 15+ unit be better?

The way I see this is :1. not utilizing the calculator well enough (eg. undervaluing my rent estimation) 2. there is no good properties in the area to invest. 3. other issues that I may not see (blind spot). 

I’ve seen where NC has partnered with municipalities to provide federal or state funding to bring public water/sewer to under severed areas. I have a multi family property connected to septics. I’m looking to connect ...

While utilizing a broker can be more expensive, the broker has a long-term relationship with the people they work with at the lender.

I funnel the wifi, utilities, insurance and taxes through this account too.

Your mortgage payments may be fixed, but your taxes and utilities will increase, your maintenance material costs and labor rates for repairs have gone up, and your property is wearing out (appliances, flooring, water heaters, furnaces, roof, etc. all have a lifespan and will eventually need replaced). 

After all PITI, utility, and services (lawncare and cleaning) costs I have $7,225.I set aside 25% of this for my maintenance fund.The remainder funds my lifestyle, wife has a Tesla, and quarterly vacations as well as business growth.In 2023 I am tracking to build 4 duplex units designed as room rentals funded in part from a recent land sale.

We plan to utilize hard money but I am interested in opinions for other options.