Investing with an IRA, 145k, options?

Question

I've done investing in the past, had single family, multi family, but never done it in an IRA where the whole purpose to grow the pot for retirement. I can't benefit from this personally at all right now, so I have 20 years to grow this section of my retirement account. With 145K, what would are some ideas? I'm an hour south of Portland, OR. The market is strong, maybe a little bit heated up, but I don't think it's too out of whack here. Thanks for any ideas.

Scott

Brian Eastman · Answer

@Scott Smith

Salem is a great rental market.  While property values are certainly on the upward curve of normal cycles, they are realistic compared to Portland.  You can certainly obtain properties that will cash flow if you are thorough and patient in your search.

With a self-directed IRA, it is basically just an IRA with different investment choices.  instead of leaving that IRA in financial products, you are switching to investing in real estate or perhaps private lending.  If you can get better results for the IRA investing in such assets, you have come out ahead.

There is a lot of good information on the topic here on BP as well as several providers of such plans who are active contributors.  Get out and do some reading and  make some phone calls, you'll quickly be able to educate yourself on whether a self-directed IRA or 401k will be a tool to help you get better results for your retirement savings.