I believer that investing in real estate outside of the IRA offers great opportunity and a higher potential return because of tax benefits and the use of leverage to boost return.When you open up a self directed IRA you can use your cash to purchase rental property. all the income from the rental goes back to your IRA.

However, since the homes were never overvalued, there was not the dramatic impact you saw in markets like CA & FL. 

So many of the threads and forums I’ve read since joining BP in 2018 have pushed the power of leverage and maintaining a high LTV to boost your ROI and grow your portfolio faster.

The idea of payroll tax cut or permanently get rid of payroll tax has nothing to do with giving the little men a bit of boost in their ability to pay bills - but has everything to do with some people's dream of getting rid of social security for good.No political judgement here, all I caution is that be aware of what you are wish for. 

I also figured that I would include in the lease that the rental price will be reevaluated every X months in case the utilities fluctuate dramatically.  

Not trying to be dramatic, but what happens if you purchase and they die the next week? 

That can dramatically increase your holding costs.

Mainly because there is a shortage of LTRs and high demand for them so LTR rent prices have increased dramatically over the last couple years.

Dark roofs drive A/c cost up, but look very dramatic on some homes--like this one.Did you sell to people who will live there, or another investor(???)

Sooooo much to consider as you see, as you answers will change my answers dramatically.