I don't care if I'm ahead or behind of anyone else because my goals are not relative to anyone else's progress.I get your point that staying active keeps your skills sharp and that if you're active when others aren't you will have access to opportunities that they do not.

In order to have checkbook control, the IRA account will need to be at a trust company that will allow the IRA to invest in an LLC (where you will be the manager and your IRA will be member - an as manager you will have checkbook access to the LLC bank account).

I've watched several "Webinars" (pretty sure they're just hyped up YouTube videos and not what I would consider a webinar) right here from BP that are really just a push to become a "PRO" and gain access to all the tools.

You also get access to conventional financing. 

I'm a newbie tooSelf education through books is a conversation between the author (mentor) and you.You'll gain knowledge, connections etc but it takes timeAttending meetups, listening to Youtube videos on subject matter further broadens knowledge base

They cited insurance reasons, which could very well be true, but many residents felt it as a big "f you" Now folks from outside the community could argue this was an entitled stance from the residents, to feel they had access to this private land when they didn't, and that on the face is certainly true.

But, I also think the access to information today: all the books, these forums, conferences, gurus on social media...  

Just be mindful that you can't 1031 a personal residence but it might be eligible for capital gain exclusion from section 121.

Over time, rents may increase, improving your cash flow, and you’ll gain equity and valuable experience managing tenants and property operations.

Your net gain is your net sale, minus your adjust cost basis.