Turnkey Property Solutions

Most retirement accounts limit you to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. A self-directed IRA does not. It carries the same tax advantages as a traditional IRA, but you decide what it invests in, including real estate. If your IRA has spent years underperforming or losing ground, this is worth understanding before you write it off as just how retirement accounts work.

We are not financial, tax, or legal advisors, and nothing here should be treated as advice. Talk to your own advisor before making a decision like this.

Already familiar with self-directed IRAs? Click here to skip to: How We Work with Investors.

What Is a Self-Directed IRA?

A self-directed IRA is a retirement account with one difference from the one you probably have now. You choose the investment. That can include:

      • Real estate, income-producing rentals, commercial property, and land

      • Promissory notes secured by real estate, private lending

      • Tax lien certificates

      • LLCs, limited partnerships, and Sub-S corporations

      • Real estate options

      • Certain precious metals

      • Traditional investments like stocks, the same as any other IRA

The Role of the Custodian

A self-directed IRA still requires a custodian, the company that holds the account and processes each investment on your behalf. Custodians differ in fees, approval speed, and flexibility. Some offer checkbook control, meaning you can write a check directly from the IRA to close a deal quickly. Others require every investment to route through an approval process that can take weeks.

A few well-regarded custodians to start your research with:

      • Guidant Financial

      • Equity Trust

      •Entrust

Questions to Ask Before You Choose One

    1. What are the fees? Structures vary widely, annual account fees, flat fees, setup fees. A higher fee can still be worth it if the returns on the real estate side outperform what the account was doing in the market.

    2. How long does approval take? Some custodians take thirty days or more to fund an investment. Checkbook control accounts give you immediate access to your own funds but usually cost more to set up.

    3. What can you actually invest in? Some larger custodians restrict real estate or private lending. Ask directly before you commit.

    4. Can your current account roll over? Most IRAs can. Some 401(k)s can too. Confirm with your financial advisor and the custodian.

    5. How long until the account is funded and ready? This step gets underestimated. If you know you want to invest in real estate, start the rollover now rather than after you've found a property, since setup alone can take weeks.

How This Fits With What We Offer

If a hands-off rental fits what you are looking for, that is turnkey investing, a property already renovated and tenant-ready, purchased with IRA funds and held for income. If private lending fits better, that is trust deed investing, where your IRA funds a loan secured by real property instead of owning it directly. You can read more on our Trust Deed Investing page Here.