You may self-direct traditional IRA's, ROTH, SEP, 401k's, 403b's, HSA's, and more.All these rules and guidelines (which can be complicated, but hopefully simplified for you here) were created by the IRS to ensure that the investment activity EXCLUSIVELY benefit the IRA and not any disqualified party.

If there is, ensure it transfers at closing.

The secondary form of advice is that we should be suing GCD for breach of contract by not completing the build within the contractual timescales - I have difficulty with this as, again, we have no evidence of any exchange of funds to GCD to reasonably allow them to do this Thirdly, we have a written guarantee from property Direct America, (that is worthless in the circumstances) that they will buy back the properties should we fail srap funding application - again, we need to actually own the properties for this guarantee to be worth anything, and of course, the duff information and advice we have received from the outset has ensured none of us even got a US social security or tax number which is critical to srap.

And I think someone is insane to provide a street address on an online site, without some kind of interactive screening to ensure they are at least somewhat qualified.

How do you ensure that the loan being foreclosed is in first position (I've heard horror stories of second loans being bought at foreclosure sales when the buyer was told by a title search company that it was a first loan}?

Sounds like a good investment considering the area and the fact that Section 8 ensures your payments on time. 

http://www.biggerpockets.com/starthere Setting up Keyword Alerts How to Use @Mentions on BiggerPockets 25 Tips for Real Estate SuccessBefore your 1st purchase, please ensure you visit the below link for some tips. http://www.realestate.com/advice/buying-your-first-investment-property/ eBookhttp://www.biggerpockets.com/files/user/brandonatbp/file/real-estate-rewind-a-biggerpockets-community-book Blog http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/02/09/how-to-start-investing-real-estate-young/ Lastly, don't forget the podcasts, webinars, #askbp podcast and the blogs.

Did you actually check out each unit to ensure they really are updated?

You added the idea of mattress toppers, and I think we're all coming from the same school of thought on that: ensure a good night's sleep and some comfort for your guests.

He makes sure I do everything right and by the book, while still ensuring that I get every legal allowance possible.