It's a good idea to work with a CPA who understands self Directed Retirement accounts and I definitely recommend you check with a CPA before you do a Roth Conversion so you know the tax implications. 

Well, you can lend directly to me :)  I'm scaling my flipping business this year.

Being new to this biz, there is a lot of fear and trepidations associated with the "right" deal and a network of lenders, agents, contractors you can trust.My strategy at this point is 1, put my money to work for me, move my money into a real estate/ self directed IRA and then work into the fix and flip side of the business. 

If you need plumbing estimates in SA, we are a small family/Verteran-owned/operated plumbing business.

Many times, this dissuades ALL bidders and the lender buys the property back for the minimum bid which is a small nominal amount.

@Ryan Blackstone a cash offer from you direct is not wholesaling.

They shared they only briefly worked after undergraduate and then directly started dental school.

Initiate from somewhere small then let it grow—in terms of experience one may have something like house hacking in mind for a beginning.

My long term goal is to acquire rental properties, so do I try to start out the gate with a small rental that I can afford at the time?

Doing some research in 2-3 states and wondering what are the best areas in your state to look at properties for purchase that would encompass most of these:-Ability to get a few acres (don't need 100, but say 3-5)-Home that can come with land suitable for small hobby farm/homesteading type stuff (couple of horses, maybe small garden, etc.)