I invest in buy and hold primarily to build a retirement.

Her husband is retired LT.

Look at the old guys trying to discourage people in the comments my goodness, it's 2016, automation is part if the game now, go retire. 

Your SDIRA would be secured by the note - the best use of retirement money, in my view.I think you’re on the right track but the wrong borrower, Thomas.

., i think Tim Delp meant to say you CAN NOT put a rental propery into an IRA if you alrady own the property.that's a prohibited transaction...i think he had a typo..i think IRA's and roths are aweomse, but i actually think our tax code is favorable enough to rentals that there is little benefit to putting in an IRA or roth...i'm currently setting up a retirement account for myself, and mygoal is to lend out of it (small amounts to start)...with all the benefits of owning rental property such as deprectiation, interest write off, long term gains, 1031's, etc...i think it's better to own those in an llc and not in a retirement account

The only complaint I had was when everyone take showers in the morning at 8:00AM, there's not enough hot water.Told the retired gentlemen who complained to take his shower in the afternoon when everyone's working. 

The reason I want the real estate asset in the self directed IRA is because there is not a lot of flexibility of what I can do with the retirement funds tied in a 401k or IRA.

@Jonathan Jaime VelardeMy advice is to not reduce your retirement savings and instead find other ways to scrape together funds for investing in RE.

Or if you want to play it extra safe, you can always get into another business or just keep saving and hope you have a big enough nest egg by the time you're ready to retire :) 

At least these are the issues I planned on dealing with as an OLD retired landlord.