When thinking about using a 401(k) loan for real estate, view it not just as an access point for funds, but as a strategic part of your overall financial plan.

I use all of them:-Brokers-Platforms like LoopNet, Crexi (my favorite), and BiggerPockets Deal Finder-additionally, brokers often have access to off-market opportunitiesWhen dealing with brokers, I've found that you have to build a relationship in order to get a good deal flow.

Unless you have some sort of subject matter expertise or access to an unfair advantage (cheap labor, ways to source off market deals, etc.), index funds are likely to provide an equal or better return with a MUCH lower hassle factor and more liquidity.

Now you can't access the cash.

Unless there's access restrictions and access is required for an appraisal or lender inspection, there's no reason why a buyer can't use financing even if the property is advertised as cash only.

I'm exploring ways to access equity without selling.

The way I'm looking at it, if my spouse and I only do employer matching for the 10 years we would have more than enough in there and still 10 years out from being able to access it.I do plan on doing 401k loans for deals if the numbers check out, and I've considered rolling over some of our 401ks into roth IRAs to access our contributions but we'd have to pay taxes out of pocket (a big hit to cash flow) and we couldn't touch it for 5 years.  

With a license, you'll have access to systems for prospecting & training.

As for why the US, simple - trust, market size, and access to information.

The only way to truly do comps in any market is via MLS access.