Following are the similarities and differences between the solo 401k and the self-directed IRA.The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k SimilaritiesBoth were created by congress for individuals to save for retirement;Both may be invested in alternative investments such as real estate, precious metals tax liens, promissory notes, private company shares, and stocks and mutual funds, to name a few;Both allow for Roth contributions;Both are subject to prohibited transaction rules;Both are subject to federal taxes at time of distribution;Both allow for checkbook control for placing alternative investments;Both may be invested in annuities;Both are protected from creditors;Both allow for nondeductible contributions; andBoth are prohibited from investing in assets listed under I.R.C. 408(m)The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k DifferencesIn order to open a solo 401k, self-employment, whether on a part-time or full-time basis, is required;To open a self-directed IRA, self-employment income is not required;In order to gain IRA checkbook control over the self-directed IRA funds, a limited liability company (IRA LLC)must be utilized;The solo 401k allows for checkbook control from the onset;The solo 401k allows for personal loan known as a solo 401k loan;It is prohibited to borrow from your IRA;The Solo 401k may be invested in life insurance;The self-directed IRA may not be invested in life insurance;The solo 401k allow for high contribution amounts (for 2018, the solo 401k contribution limit is $55,000, whereas the self-directed IRA contribution limit is $5,500);The solo 401k business owner can serve as trustee of the solo 401k;The self-directed IRA participant/owner may not serve as trustee or custodian of her IRA; instead, a trust company or bank institution is required;When distributions commence from the solo 401k a mandatory 20% of federal taxes must be withheld from each distribution and submitted electronically to the IRS by the 15th of the month following the date of each distribution;Rollovers and/or transfers from IRAs or qualified plans (e.g., former employer 401k) to a solo 401k are not reported on Form 5498, but rather on Form 5500-EZ, but only if the air market value of the solo 401k exceeds $250K as of the end of the plan year (generally 12/31);When funds are rolled over or transferred from an IRA or 401k to a self-directed IRA, the amount deposited into the self-directed IRA is reported on Form 5498 by the receiving self-directed IRA custodian by May of the year following the rollover/transfer.Rollovers (provided the 60 day rollover window is satisfied) from an IRA to a Solo 401k or self-directed IRA are reported on lines 15a and 15b of Form 1040;Pre-tax IRA contributions on reported on line 32 of Form 1040;Pre-tax solo 401k contributions are reported on line 28 of Form 1040;Roth solo 401k funds are subject to RMDs;A Roth 401k may be transferred to a Roth IRA (Note that from a planning perspective, it may be advantageous to transfer Roth Solo 401k funds to a Roth IRA before turning age 70 ½ in order to escape the Roth RMD requirement applicable to Roth 401k contributions including Roth Solo 401k contributions and earnings.)

If would be easiest for this transaction if I personally closed on the property, cut the $30k check and signed for the $500/mo (or whatever) mortgage, then informed him that he owed me $15k and $250/mo for the next 30 years.Then as rent checks come in (let's say 6 units at $800 apiece, so $4800/mo made out to the LLC), the LLC would pay the mortgage (-$500), the property manager (-$480 at 10%), set aside funds for maintenance/capex (another 15% of gross, -$720 in this example), any applicable utilities, taxes, insurance, etc (say another $500), that leaves us at 2600/mo. profit.

For instance, if you utilize a full-time housekeeping staff, it may also be wise to have a couple of housekeeping staff report on a different schedule to accommodate day-use rooms.I really don't see day-use rooms being an explosive seller, so wouldn't need a dedicated staff for day-use rooms.

Rents are $17,700  with tenants paying their own utilities and total costs are $12,030 including the mortgage payment.(10% management $1770, 5% vacancy factor $885, maintenance $885, lawn care  $900, 10 % Cap ex $1770, Payments $5820)This leaves $5670 dollars a year in cash flow for a ridiculous 56.7% cash on cash return! 

Account Closed I would say as a beginning note investor that your question on returns is not an easy one to answer and the note industry is not like more popular real estate arenas like buy and hold or flipping where there's more literature and information to find out about it.

I know on a retail purchase, the buyer sometimes has to sell their home and will utilize a kick out clause. has anyone had any experience with this?

In some commercial and most industrial verbal negotiations almost always happen before a non binding letter of intent is drafted. 

So after looking at lifestyles and goals of some people I admire I have made a goal to read more about real estate.Being in the commercial development industry, there are a ton of information and materials out there.

I am looking at a deal just north of Houston that is 2 4-plexs on 1 lot, and I wanted to double check on cap ex and maintainence numbers.All city utilities, flat roofs, built in 1966, updates have been done, some new ac’s.

Utilize these resources!