If you’re going to jump into real estate, I would highly encourage you to take is serious which means that you would need to dedicate time in learning and effort and connect with successful operators over time in order to be successful.

If you're 50/50 on whether to do it, I would encourage you to self-manage your first few rentals and then when it becomes too much of a time commitment turn it over to 3rd party management.

If you are being represented by an agent, encourage them to be the "squeaky wheel."

The only thing I can do to help justify it is that now with income in the highest tax bracket, I am saving 37% on any depreciation I can get.Will someone either wake me up to my new found delusions or encourage me that I am still on the right track.

Certain organizations such as the AICPA and the State board that issues the CPA license mention what a CPA can / can't do to retain his / her license.Providing a comfort letter is an 'attest service'.Furthermore, CPA firms are encouraged to have insurance, which may mention that the firm can not provide comfort letters.What the mortgage company is looking to do is potentially have another person to go after if the mortgage goes south.It is not worth it to a CPA to get a few hundred dollars but potentially get a lot more in risk exposure.

I would encourage you to read up on debt to income ratios (DTI for short).  

I appreciate the encouragement.

The easiest way is to bring on a partner who has a lof of capital they are looking to deploy, but I always encourage having sufficient reserves.  

:)Hey Lane, my advice would be if your town doesn't offer any networking or events, I would encourage you to take matters into your own hands!

It seems to me that your knowledge and experience with self-directed IRA is quite limited so I encourage you to be open-minded and just hear what others who did it successfully are saying.