@Jason SpicerAbsolutely, your IRA is not limited to investing in what Wall St sells. 

It will depend on the quality and color or granite. 

@Jeff Fruhwirth and @Shawn Ackerman  I like that Idea of a multi-family house hack but we are not looking to move... don't want shared walls and really like our current home.

This is a complete reconstruction after a fire and the only components remaining is the roof and exterior walls.

Marc, there are also some "peer to peer" lending companies like Lending Club which may be available to you, though I've read mixed reviews of them online.Here are a couple of articles I bookmarked on the topic: Peer-to-peer lending: From the people, for the people; and Wall Street's Takeover Of Peer-to-Peer Lending Almost Complete.Also, the Mister Money Mustache forums seem to have some good commentary on specific companies such as Lending Club (since MMM was an early user/proponent of it - not sure where he stands on it now).

The thing about the trench is that not only is it 40 ft long, we have to cross a retaining wall with a drop of about 4 1/2 feet.

Seems their master bedrooms share a wall and the snoring can be heard through the wall an it is keeping him awake.

However for my primary residence I might like tile with grout on the floors and bathroom walls. 

I don't know if this is beginners luck but I'm going to keep at it this way until I hit a brick wall.

Recently, bought a house in Auction that have everything still there, clothes, furniture, shoes, photos on wall and dressers, food in kitchen, vacuums, and all personal items.