Following are the similarities and differences between the solo 401k and the self-directed IRA.The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k Similarities Both were created by congress for individuals to save for retirement;Both may be invested in alternative investments such as real estate, precious metals tax liens, promissory notes, private company shares, and stocks and mutual funds, to name a few;Both allow for Roth contributions;Both are subject to prohibited transaction rules;Both are subject to federal taxes at time of distribution;Both allow for checkbook control for placing alternative investments;Both may be invested in annuities;Both are protected from creditors;Both allow for nondeductible contributions;Both are prohibited from investing in assets listed under I.R.C. 408(m); andThe Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k DifferencesIn order to open a solo 401k, self-employment, whether on a part-time or full-time basis, is required;To open a self-directed IRA, self-employment income is not required;In order to gain IRA checkbook control over the self-directed IRA funds, a limited liability company (IRA LLC) must be utilized;The solo 401k allows for checkbook control from the onset;The solo 401k allows for personal loan known as a solo 401k loan;It is prohibited to borrow from your IRA;The Solo 401k may be invested in life insurance;The self-directed IRA may not be invested in life insurance;The solo 401k allow for high contribution amounts (for 2015; the solo 401k contribution limit is $53,000, whereas the self-directed IRA contribution limit is $5,500);The solo 401k business owner can serve as trustee of the solo 401k;The self-directed IRA participant/owner may not serve as trustee or custodian of her IRA; instead, a trust company or bank institution is required;When distributions commence from the solo 401k a mandatory 20% of federal taxes must be withheld from each distribution and submitted electronically to the IRS by the 15th of the month following the date of each distribution;Rollovers and/or transfers from IRAs or qualified plans (e.g., former employer 401k) to a solo 401k are not reported on Form 5498, but rather on Form 5500-EZ, but only if the air market value of the solo 401k exceeds $250K as of the end of the plan year (generally 12/31);When funds are rolled over or transferred from an IRA or 401k to a self-directed IRA, the amount deposited into the self-directed IRA is reported on Form 5498 by the receiving self-directed IRA custodian by May of the year following the rollover/transfer.Rollovers (provided the 60 day rollover window is satisfied) from an IRA to a Solo 401k or self-directed IRA are reported on lines 15a and 15b of Form 1040;Pre-tax IRA contributions on reported on line 32 of Form 1040;Pre-tax solo 401k contributions are reported on line 28 of Form 1040;Roth solo 401k funds are subject to RMDs;A Roth 401k may be transferred to a Roth IRA (Note that from a planning perspective, it may be advantageous to transfer Roth Solo 401k funds to a Roth IRA before turning age 70 ½ in order to escape the Roth RMD requirement applicable to Roth 401k contributions including Roth Solo 401k contributions and earnings.)

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.  

Coil Laundry - $2,500 Area is an A or B, suburb location within 20 minutes of Grand Rapids, MI. 

@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.

Because each A/C unit is R-22 Freon, if one unit goes, I would have to spend roughly 3k-4k  (per unit) for a replacement as R-22 is no longer available per EPA requiring a complete replacement including the coil located in the furnace.