Originally posted by @Stephen Chittenden:You can use some strategies (such as 1031 exchanges) to defer taxation, but otherwise the profit on each flip will be subject to taxes.You can't do a 1031 on a flip property...In general, all flip income will be subject to ordinary income taxes at your marginal rate, plus self-employment taxes. 

It sounds as if this 401k is with your current employer, so you likely do not have the option to move that to a self directed IRA.  

It's just that my income is from self employment and kinda hard to convince banks to lend me hundreds of thousands of dollars :(

there will be many that live in each state.... turn key generally produce's a few of your trigger items not necessarily all of them though in one house.great houses and tenants usually equates to a smaller NET return... as your return goes up your sacrificing something.Unless of course you go the state your self source your deal do your own rehab and etc then those metrics are not to difficult.

I presently have a self directed traditional IRA thru institution that .

My question revolves around peoples' opinions on how to best prepare myself to invest in income producing properties in the next 3-4 years in regards to 401K v IRA v highly liquid personal stock portfolio.I have read many posts on here referring to using self-directed traditional or roth IRA's as the vehicle through which to invest in real estate, but I am curious if I have not yet started a roth would it be better to start a post-tax savings/ investment account so that I can be ready to jump on a deal nearly immediately if one presents itself?

I consider my self a new investor but i read on your profile you bought your first property in 2013.

Thirdly, while your strategy of self funding the down payments will work, it is not sustainable. 

I invest in Hamilton about an hour away....do you self manage the student rentals or have a PM?

Picked up a triplex with some modest cash flow, and have been self-managing it since then (it's just a few miles from our house).