@Maria Jeanette Using a self-directed IRA (SDIRA) for real estate investment offers control over asset selection and tax advantages, such as tax-deferred growth (Traditional IRA) or tax-free growth (Roth IRA).

Quote from @Stuart Udis: Not creative, but good real estate and traditional financing is almost always better than incredible seller financing terms and lousy real estate.

Have I just discovered the secret to getting rich in real estate?

@Raj VardhanI agree with @Evan Polaski regarding the 6-Month Seasoning Rule: Most traditional lenders require a 6-month holding period before you can do a cash-out refinance.

Quote from @Fadil Khan: Interested in learning about investing in property for rental income, commercial property vs rental properties (section 8, traditional etc)1.

That said, I completely understand your concern about deals looking "too good to be true" when you’re putting in 50% down.To avoid this, it’s best to analyze properties as if you were using more traditional financing (20-25% down).

Then I read Rich Dad, poor dad which completely changed my mindset.

Traditionally I have sold the builder land and loaned him the money to buy the land and build the house with us splitting up the profits when it sold. 

I too got caught up with a very Rich Taiwanese investor and a RE developer in the states..

The problem we are having is much of our current deal flow is below traditional lending terms (<$75K).