I've also heard it can be a good thing to have some debt against a property because if any issues arise legally, the bank will be the first line of defense. 

Are you looking at self managing or putting into a management company?

For example, I recently made a loan to a house flipper, partnering with my self-directed 401(k) and Health Savings Account (HSA).

Now I'm not gonna be Mr Tour-guide for any/all who want to stop out and just look around but if you go through the steps and are serious, we have built out acquisition strategy HECK-YEAH I'm gonna say come-on-out and we'd carve out some time to do market tours together AND I'd equip you to do some self study/exploration. 

I am still learning my self.

However, nearing retirement, with our past experience in mind, we decided to try it again, this time just rehabbing one house to flip.So, I set up a self-directed IRA so we could use the retirement money we had left after the recession, and bought a foreclosure house that needed a lot work.

We self-insure and take on the rental risk ourselves. 

Remember, the notion of amassing wealth without investing is a dangerous myth perpetuated by self-proclaimed experts.

I might invest in a self-storage facility deal next, which should serve me well during the impending recession -- the four Ds (divorce, dislocation, death, disaster). 

Remember, the notion of amassing wealth without investing is a dangerous myth perpetuated by self-proclaimed experts.