The primary advantage for most is the psychological security that comes with believing it will better protect your assets.

My question is before I dive in are you allowed to get a traditional personal loan when buying a property through a self directed ira or is it considered a corporation and therefore you need a commercial loan. 

It is a little different that then traditional notes, but they are similar in a way.

Other options presented to me is a long flip where i get a traditional loan for a new property 203k FHA and live in that for a year then transition to the other after I’m finished the occupation requirement to sell.Is there any other way I can use the equity in my home to both fix my current home and fix and flip in another??

@David Weintraub can he not qualify for traditional/conventional financing?

And if you do close and have a gain and it's your primary home I'm sure you're aware of both the $500K married couple exclusion to pay no taxes and/or the new tax laws that lowered income taxes.

@Oliver Sparks USDA offers zero down payment loans if it will be your primary residence.

@Mateusz SkibaIf you are occupying your primary residence and don’t plan to move to the next property, you will need 20% or more down since that will be a non owner occupancy investment property.FHA loans are for owner occupancy only, not for investment properties.

Chris, I haven’t used First United for a duplex, but do have experience working with them on traditional mortgages and to be honest I’m not surprised they got their info wrong, their knowledge and customer service isn’t the best (and their website isn’t user friendly at all) I would definitely talk to other banks.

I bought my first primary resident home in my early 20’s.