@Brad Herb Investing in a syndication via a Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA) offers tax advantages but comes with fees and limitations:Advantages:Tax Benefits: Gains grow tax-deferred (Traditional SDIRA) or tax-free (Roth SDIRA).Avoid Penalties: Keeps funds in the IRA, avoiding early withdrawal penalties.Diversification: Adds real estate syndications to your retirement portfolio.Disadvantages:Fees: Setup, custodian, and administrative fees can reduce returns.UBIT: If the syndication uses debt, income may be subject to Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT).Complexity: Strict rules; all income/expenses must flow through the SDIRA.Illiquidity: Syndications are long-term, locking up funds.Use an SDIRA if the investment is significant and the UBIT impact is minimal, especially with a Roth SDIRA for tax-free growth.Remember that RE, outside of retirement accounts, provides the biggest tax benefits.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

Navigating NYC's zoning regulations can be complex @Jon Pflueger, especially in M1-2 districts, which are primarily designated for light manufacturing and commercial uses.

I also don't have time to personally manage a complex like that but I have identified a property manager that charges 10% of rent to manage the units. 

There are benefits to using the LLC, holding company, or trust, but they all come with costs and add complexity to your life that is often unwarranted.

Thanks folks, it seems like overall it doesn’t make the most sense to start an LLC for real estate purposes due the cost and complexity, with few benefits here in California.

Unfortunately, Detroit is complex due to things being driven block by block.

I know CA investors buying in Dallas and San Antonio, specifically apartment complexes and an Austin investor (who lives there) buying land to build retail.

I bring experience navigating complex acquisitions and supporting investor strategies here in Florida's Gold Coast. 

I don’t tend to do much plumbing drawings, especially when it get complex or extensive. 

My family was an investor in a Corporate Housing designated complex and it turned out to be very profitable.