I am ready to purchase my next unit (available funds 50k savings, 14k self-directed IRA accounts).

We are debt free and have a lot of assets (mostly tied up in IRAs)Should we rent out our paid for home which would bring about $2500/mo before expenses and is in a popular rental area?

When I'm out of the Corps I'll also have about $18000 in my Roth IRA along with the 20K cash. 

My mother has one because she holds real estate in her self-directed IRA which does require an LLC.  

I would think you may want to look into a fund like @Bob Malecki has as they do all the dirty work for you... or other NPN funds were you can vette the manageralso no risk of IBT tax..although frankly I like really good performing notes for IRA s.

Matthew, An IRA can lend personally to you.

Check to see if you have a Self Directed IRA company near your is best source, other then that any big REI meeting.   

However, the aggregate amount of IRA distributions taken by an IRA owner that may be treated as qualified first-time home buyer distributions cannot exceed a lifetime limit of $10,000.

I invest in smaller notes, preferably from my Roth IRA and have some decent success around it.

When I leave the military in summer 2018 I'll have roughly 20K cash and 20K in a Roth IRA (also $0 debt).