And personally I cannot pull the trigger on a turnkey operator.

If the 401k is with a previous employer then you can move it to a self directed IRA, from which you can invest in real estate without triggering a withdrawal.   

(Edit: Just noticed you posted your email above, I'll reach out via email later this week.)Since intermittent housing isn't an issue, and I have the cash to make a down payment, I can technically begin pulling the trigger on both buying and selling anytime.

I guess it was this newfound investor's mindset triggering me forward...I definitely have a few years to calculate my father's decision (and mine), and in the meantime I look forward to tackling the current task at hand.

We have given ourselves a loose timeline of starting to seriously look at properties to purchase in March .. and whenever the right one comes across, we can pull the trigger.

I am looking at some long distance and that scary part is what keeps me from pulling the trigger

Hi BP!I currently have one rental property (primary residence turned rental) and this will be my true investment property purchase and wanted to make sure I'm on the right track.Anyway, my agent who is also a builder/...

Why I think this will trigger the "Politics ruins everything" modifier so I'll leave it at that. 

if you don't mind, I'll keep in touch if ever I'm ready to pull the trigger.

Intersting advise from your mortgage brokers - transferring title into an LLC after closing is almost certainly a violation or your mortgage contract and will trigger the a "due on sale" clause.