You will find all the info you could possibly want on the subject.

Where is the best free information on these subjects?

@Natalie Wells@Colin M.Of course, if you take a distribution from your retirement account you will have to pay the taxes and (likely) penalties.There are possible alternatives which would allow to you use these funds without paying taxes or penalties.First, you may wish to consider transferring the funds to a self-directed 401k or IRA which will allow you to invest in real estate without incurring taxes or penalties.

The next portion is the estimate the investors desired return given the risks associated with the subject.

Of course they say, they - the bank- have no info on if panels are owned, leased, subject to a lien, etc.

There could be exceptions, contact your HR department or plan administrator and ask if you can do "in-service distribution".

Good luckedit: sorry, I somehow posted on wrong subject.  

And Alyssa lives and works most frequently in St Paul so shes a subject matter expert.

That is, ordinary income subject to self income tax and basically. no different than ordinary wages/salary.

If you find out that they just need some cash to move away and would love monthly cash flow, then subject to may be a great idea.