@Taylor L.Comparing investing with tax-sheltered IRA funds to non-IRA funds can get complicated, as the tax scenarios are often quite different, complex, and varied based on your situation.However, pulling funds from a Roth IRA to invest personally would be foolish. 

Whatever you decide , make sure it’s very clearly spelled out in a written agreement  to avoid complications. 

But the more reading I do on it, the more incredibly complicated it seems it is.Let's say a friend from CA wants to join in on a purchase in GA with me but I live in NY.He fronts the down payment. 

This is complicated and requires professional help, to stay in compliance with the rules. 

Last week I paid $145 for an electric range to have a new mini-electrical panel be replaced and that sounds more complicated. 

One thing I see that is missing is penny stocks which I imagine are more volatile but may provide a better return and also option trading which seems to complicated to me anyway.

I've read so much about REOs being more complicated and would really like a straightforward deal for my first deal. 

I'd be happy to go over it with you, it's just way too complicated to explain right here. 

with 1 property it would be pretty easy to do in a note book or on an Excel Spreadsheet, dont over think it, its not that complicated, as you get more properties, work with your CPA, use the Software they want you to use (Quick Books, Peachtree, ect) and have them teach you how to use it. 

@George Blower running an LLC is really not that complicated, nor expensive.