Using your IRA/ 401K for Real Estate Investing (Pottstown)
My wife, Tina, and I have been investing in real estate around Pottstown, PA since 1997. As self-employed professionals, we found it was next to impossible to get financing after the economic downturn started. We started to look at other options and one of those options was using our retirement funds for real estate investing. In other words, we started using our 401K and IRA accounts to buy homes!
This type of investing is called "self-directed IRA" investing and we are just sorry we didn't try this sooner. "Self-directed" means that the account owner can select any assets of their choice for investment purposes, provided it's not prohibited by the IRS. Real estate is one of the popular choices, but you can also direct your investments towards buying a business, investing in notes, tax liens, stocks, raw land, etc.
Tina and I have been real estate investing for years and we are comfortable with finding good deals. One of the largest benefits of using our retirement accounts for investing is that we can control our investment returns and watch those gains compound and grow tax-free in our Roth accounts (grows tax-deferred in traditional accounts). Keep in mind, the real estate must be for investment purposes only (no personal use) and everything is titled in the name of the 401K or IRA. You also cannot pocket any of the gains for yourself personally. The profit must be kept in the retirement account. Failure to follow the proper process and rules could lead to IRS penalties. Make sure to do your research! A great place to start is by speaking with a third-party administrator like camaplan.com or meeting other investors who are already doing what you want to do!
David Artigliere is a home inspector around Pottstown and Reading and works with homebuyers and real estate investors in the area.
He is available 7 days a week and can be reached by visiting his website at www.artihomeinspections.com or calling (610) 220-1907.
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