Saving money for my first investment is like watching grass grow. 

I am tired of the interest rate continuing to grow up to 5.25% this year and not cash flowing as well 975 in rents 520 for mortgage now with HOA and Water bill 180ish a month.

Also, I am looking for a HML to help finance the first few as I grow.

There are what are referred to as self-directed IRA (and 401k) plans that allow the plan to diversify beyond conventional stocks and into real estate and other non-traditional assets.When an IRA invests in real estate, it is all about choosing the best path to grow the IRA. 

Now my husband is retired from Blizzard Entertainment Irvine CA after working in gaming for the past 25 years and I run and grow our property portfolio.

I keep reading mixed reviews..some say no waste of time and money - possible to grow as an investor without it and some say that it will help in the long run/perks of access to MLS etc etc.Would you recommend it?

If you want real estate to grow into a large investment for you, that is the approach you need to take.

Buy something that needs some work but nothing major in a decent C+/B+ neighborhood that is growing.

Keep on growing that portfolio!

Hello again biggerpockets  im going to start out using a HELOC from my old man’s house he will be having around a 200k heloc pretty soon and i will flip my first home some time late january or early February using a 100k or less of that helocI have recently made an amazing encounter with a broker that is in charged of selling off a local credit unions foreclosures and i have to say even with my inexperience’s in flips there is money to be made in my local market Currently looking at a property that is foreclosed on might go for 55k or 60k bank hasnt approved a price yet took a contractor that i trust and another one i never dealt with and around a similar bids 25k-35k repairs needed1950’s home  has been updated electrical wise plumbing still not sure will get inspected and foundation is sound on slabNeeds roof redoneKitchen1 full Restroom1/2 restroomDriveway workDetached Garage work (door and cement work)Redo kitchen cielingRedo living room cielingMove electrical outletsRedo floor or overlay with laminate (ugly old tile)New paint in and out(ultimately on what i choose material wise prefabbed or custom) a recent house 3 houses down the same road was recently flipped and sold for 140k is sightly larger 1280 sqft vs 1080sqft (one im looking to buy) the realtor i deal with works for this broker as well and comps match the area for what the house sold and ultimately said if i fix n flip this property i should see minimum 125k selling price high of 145k (market is hot at the moment) Given i should over estimate the rehab 35k rehab 55k purchaseAll in at 90k Sales at minimum 125kPotential profit 35k minus holding cost expenses and commission to realtor should be arund 27.5k profit If this works out i would repeat and do more flips jn the future to build up enough cash (really want to build up 500k cash not counting HELOC) to were i can do multiple flips at a time  and keeping 1 free and clear to have a high cash flowing sfr rentals sooner then just 200$ a month per door really want to have 800$ a month cash flowing properties I know alot of people like over leveraging and using OPM’s but this is my realistic niche i can accomplish especially in the hot market im currently inI run a restaurant as my full time “job” but can definitely get out and manage my contractor and have worked with him in the past, for sure one i get the hang of flipping ill probably stick a manager in my place and go full time flipping myself if it goes smoothly (never does i know)Would this method be worth while to build up cash fastest way without leveraging and using OPM’s for now with SFR’s and flipsGo easy on me i been reading alot of books and listening to podcasts daily and get the lingo of the real estate investing world and alot of different ideas from what other people have done in the past to be successful Like episode 121 from bp real estate podcasts those guys are my age and killing in their 20’s yes all hands on but they going strong for sure(Sorry long read)