Did my wife and I get $60K worth of raises and then get hit in the head with paint cans by Macaulay Culkin or something? 

Here's a quick guide to success:1) Finding Deals:Establish your Goals - First, think about, write down, or know by heart, your goals and your "Why" - why are you investing, and what do you want to achieve.Next, create a "buy-box". 

I would like to lock down my systems and automate my first niche 100% by the start of the 4th quarter.

- Just meant the fees the custodian takesQ:  What about funding the property itself, I recently heard that SDIRA's are hard to get loans on, I was just thinking of using my 401k for a down payment on an investment property (20-25% down)

Engelo turns down more business than he takes on.

Since I use it when I come down here to do work, and we have family visits here, it doesn't particularly bother me that it loses money as I just consider it a luxury like playing golf or flying airplanes.

I thought well even if the value fluctuated up or down a little bit, the finances would not be stressed. 

I came down from Illinois.

Leverage a low down-payment in a property that has higher cash flow opportunities.

Hey Brian, that's quite a smattering of options.My best advice is to narrow it down as much as possible.