Dave where would you retire to?

Third, I want to set up a solid foundation for my future, so I can do things i want to do such as travel, retire early, etc.My goal in real estate right now for the short term is just to educate myself.

Caleb, this seller wants this as his retirement plan so he wants to do seller finance so he gets a steady income for the next 15 years

More on the prohibited transaction rules you can learn on the IRS website:https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-particip...

@Jared Rine, there are several different properties I have been looking at, a few that are 'off market' but I know the owners and they are retirement age and wanting to get out of the day to day. 

I know of people who retired on O&G revenue.

Someone close to retirement and no time left I think paying cash makes a lot of sense.

Also, you have plenty exposure to the stock market with your retirement and pension accounts. 

Let me know if you want to compare notes.The other thing I'm doing is creating a self-directed checkbook IRA so I can invest my retirement savings in long-term hold real estate.

You may avoid the taxes if you deposit the funds in an eligible retirement plan (which includes anIRA) within "3 years and a day" of the date of the COVID-19 distribution (note: compare to a 60-day rollover).