If you are under age 59 1/2, there is an additional 10% penalty.Bottom line is that we strongly recommend against using IRA funds to purchase a house you wish to have personally in teh future.  

@Christian Morsing you could make the private money lender taking the second position a minority partner in the deal?

Barrier to entry is low with really strong/stable LTR.

Both cities exhibit strong economic foundations and growth potentials, similar to Raleigh but with their unique draws.SFH vs.

The big "IF" here is that demand for Tulum as a vacation destination continues to be strong or grow.

Personally, I'm happy to partner with people who bring deals to me.

That said, Atlanta has a very strong film industry (who knew?!)

If one market experiences a downturn, others may remain stable or even thrive.Higher Potential Returns: Some out-of-state markets may offer higher potential returns due to factors like lower property prices, higher rental yields, or stronger appreciation rates.Access to Different Economies: Investing in diverse markets allows you to tap into different economic conditions, potentially capitalizing on areas with strong job growth, population expansion, or industry booms.Specialized Opportunities: Certain markets may specialize in specific types of real estate, such as vacation rentals, college rentals, or luxury properties.

Don’t really have a strong opinion one way or the other! 

Yes, in most cases I would strongly suspect as you do that these are not good tenants, BUT you don't want to deny them for an invalid reason and leave yourself open to any kind of discrimination claim.