It is worth keeping in mind that the Fed controls the short-term rates, not the long term ones (now that they stopped buying long term treasuries and even then it was indirectly), which are much more influenced by the long-term expectations of inflation and the international flow of money (think, is there instability in Russia that causes Russians to pull out their money out of the country and invest it in the safe-heaven like US, is the unpredictable and shifting US policy going to keep the US dollar's status as the de facto world currency, etc).

And as Aaron stated, there are probably lots of deals to be had in your back yard...and you are much closer making it easier to control them.

We have had problems in the past with her trying to control what I put in my yard.  

I'm risk averse on factors I can't control, so I don't mess around with insufficient insurance!

And as this faux 'recovery' is merely a 'reinflated bubble' as par, it ultimately matters not whether the PTB (Powers That Be) are in near complete control of another 'controlled demolition?'

It all depends on the amount of time and the amount of control you'd like to have over a project.

You can not raise the rent higher than the local Rent Control Laws allow. 

Just understand what you can and cannot control being so far away.

Some communities charged different amounts for different reasons and can control more than you think. 

Compared to an IRA, Solo 401k contributions limits are roughly 10 times higher, there is no custodial requirement for the 401k, you can take participant loans, you don't need the additional expense and administration of an LLC to have checkbook control, there is a built in-Roth component, a spouse can participate in the same plan, there are additional tax benefits (UDFI exemption), and the plans are often quicker to setup and cost less money over time especially compared to most IRA LLCs.