Now for the numbers on the property:Property Description: Duplex with 4BR-2BA total, in a good area within 2 miles of local, large state university; exterior condition is good as it's brick with new metal roof, windows, metal siding on trim; interior has hardwood/tile floors, new ceiling fans, lights, appliances, and paintPurchase Price: $118,000Down Payment: $23,600 (with closing costs credit from seller, final number at closing was right at $24,000)Loan: Commercial loan 15 yr AM, 5 yr balloon, 5.0% interestMortgage: $750/moTaxes: $200/moInsurance: $80/moRent: $2,100 (rented to four college students as one group; tenants pay all utilities)Est maintenance/repairs/cap ex: $300/moVacancy: $100/moProjected cash flow: $670/mo or $8,040/yr (est. $4,200/yr in mortgage principal reduction)Amount spent on repairs: $15,000 (majority spent on new HVAC/duct system and appliances)CoC return: 20.6%I think that covers most of the relevant numbers.  

Boat launch and Park are on other side of the bridge.All buildings had new metal roofs, updated electrical boxes, and the main sewage lines had been recently changed from cast iron to PVC all the way from the street to the foundations of each building.When I bought this place, it was an absolute disaster.

The metal can last a very long time as long as it is taken care of.  

The tax code has always allowed retirement plans to invest in many more things that what Wall St sells, and it takes a different business model to diversify an IRA into things like real estate, private company stock, private mortgages, precious metals, and the like.At the end of the day, an IRA is still an IRA, which is a tax-sheltered vehicle that allows you to compound your savings over time by removing the tax burden on the front end when you initially contribute and on the earnings.

You can also hang the fence upside down with leaves little sharp metal prickers at the top rather than a "finished" fence look.  

@Lian Shi, everything else the same, I prefer newer houses than older ones.Older homes normally requires more maintenance, thinking about aluminum wires, metal pipes etc.

Plus some of these stores, especially Dollar stores use cheaper metal frame construction.To your point of investing strong suburban areas, I personally thought these areas in and surrounding major metros are dominated by large investment groups and it would difficult to enter this space.

In my mind, that is heavy metals and maybe some sort of treasury or muni bond (if you think interest rates wont go up).

My dream for my real estate endeavors would be to slow build a property base that would eventually provide my income allowing my engineering profession to be a well paying hobby or give me the ability to start my own engineering company.Non-real estate-wise I also am an avid musician, playing guitar in a terrible metal/hard rock band that somehow Google actually recognizes. 

It is 2.5 acres with a 10-year-old metal 3000 SQFT building with three bays, and office, and a bathroom.