I'm ok with this as long as I'm buying below market value in a compressing cap rate environment, I am self-managing effectively and I have enough reserves to cover any cap ex AND a margin call. 

My interest is to do Real Estate Investing with the funds, I have been told I should move it into a Self-Directed Roth IRA I'm thinking about having both for the time being, I'm interested in buying apartments with a Partner, or evening doing a loan 🤔 with a down.

There are a few self-contained guides that you can access here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guidesIf you haven’t been to it already, you might want to check out the BP blog: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/

You may be able to access capital with a C/O Refi DSCR loan based solely on the income of the rental property and your credit score if your self employed income & rental income cannot qualify you for a conventional loan.

Self managers in Gatlinburg right now should be doing ~50% cash on cash as a starting point. 

There are a few self-contained guides that you can access here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guidesAlerts can be really helpful too: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

If you’re self managing that will help with returns as long as you feel good about handling the tenant class. 

I would've like to make my case of being grandfathered in for the simple fact that the previous owner (whom is close to 80 years of age and self managed as Owner Occupied for over 35 years) had tried in the past:  1st - To reduce taxes because it's listed as a 3 & 2 but then the tax site has it as 6+ and when the old man had them visit the buildings they seen 7 mailboxes that USPS installed( so he decided to stay shut and not pursue it) 2nd- The 2 family already had 3 gas meters and even a fire escape because the 3rd floor studio apartment only has access thru back door.The front building has 4 gas meters, 1st floor, 2nd floor, 3rd floor and one for the front Studio apartment (which is like a basement apartment) but its street level with main entrance off sidewalk. 

Are there any self storage investors on the forum that would like to connect?

It stands for Delaware Statutory Trust and is a trust/pass through entity in which a sponsor (think big real estate investment corporation) buys institutional property (apartments, self storage, commercial, medical office, etc) and then sells interest in the Trust/Property to investors.