So, for a $60k loan, you'll likely need $12k-$15k for a downpayment, $8k-$12k for closing costs (prepaid insurance and taxes, lender fees, attorney fees, points, prepaid interest, transfer taxes, etc), and then another couple thousand for reserves and whatever else.

I guess it's just too many factors to consider and it easy to get overwhelmed and cannot get accurate info and estimation when I conduct analysis (ex. property tax rate, insurance, maintenance fee, rent, repair, closing cost, etc.) 

To avoid Prohibited Transactions, SDIRA investments really need to be passive.Oh, I'll also mention that SDIRAs are subject to UBIT tax.  

Quote from @Melanie Baldridge: In 2025 the bonus depreciation rate is 40%.This means that if you bought a property for $1M in 2025, did a cost seg study and found $300K in eligible assets that you could depreciate, you could take 40% of that $300K as bonus depreciation to offset your income in the first year.40% of $300K = $120K.You then apply that $120K to the owner’s personal tax rate to find the final amount that they can defer in year 1.If your tax rate is 37%, you can defer $66.6K.This is a big deal even at the 40% bonus depreciation rate this year.It’s a massive benefit 

Hence the lot on which the house resided was taxed at a 45% discount based on actual value, while the tennis lot was taxed at about 4 times what it should have been by value. 

I know we can look at tax records / county appraisal districts, get BPO's / ask realtors, go to the property, but how can we see recent sales comps if we are not a realtor?

if it is unsecured loan that is the consequence, you lose they entire thing. as far as tax write off, sorry but none.

You can use defined percentages, like taxes, because they are a product of a specific percentage applied to property value. 

That requires like engineering and construction expertise... and municipal connections and negotiation mastery.. a TON of luck... and "balls of steel"!

Property taxes, income taxes, sales taxes, declining population, unfavorable rental laws, winter weather.