Even indirect or unintentional benefits can trigger a prohibited transaction.Frequent problem areas: Lending to family members or controlled entities Personally guaranteeing an IRA loan Paying IRA expenses with personal funds Personally managing or “fixing” IRA-owned assetsBest-practice reminder:Treat the IRA as a completely separate legal and financial silo.

Over the years, I have continued to self-manage my portfolio and I'm always looking for advice and best practices from other self-managers.

What AI lets me do is talk, refine, clarify, refine again—until those ideas become linear, practical, and usable for other people.

Networking with people who already have experience can give you practical insights, tips, and even potential mentorship as you start your journey.

A practical step today is start underwriting 20 to 80 unit deals and build a track record plus broker relationships, because that is what gets you taken seriously when you pitch equity.How big of a complex and price range are you looking at in Indy, and do you have any net worth and liquidity to satisfy loan requirements even if you do not have the down payment?

Single family ...paid 135 thousand...have it gutted...new electrical and plumbing... added a bedroom ...and small rec room in attic...new roof and gutters...so practically everything new im currently 20 thousand in construction....n my exit strategy is cash out refinance ...its a conventional loan...but I want to hold it ...not in it for fast money...I do alot of the construction myself @Joe Soto How much will total rehab cost?

The goal is simple: turn overlooked or underperforming properties into income-producing assets using practical, creative strategies.I’m actively building toward purchasing my first property in Q3 or Q4 of 2026 and am currently on track to become a licensed Virginia real estate agent.If you’re an investor, agent, or homeowner interested in connecting, collaborating, or partnering, my DMs are open.

I'll add one angle specific to out-of-state ownership in Ohio: make sure your management agreement includes clear legal compliance provisions.Ohio has some landlord-friendly aspects, but there are specific requirements that trip up out-of-state owners:Key Ohio-specific items to confirm your PM handles:Lead-based paint disclosure (pre-1978 properties) - Ohio takes this seriously, and violations can be costlySecurity deposit accounting - Ohio requires deposits be held separately and returned within 30 days with itemized deductionsCleveland-specific ordinances - If your property is in Cleveland proper (vs. suburbs), there are city rental registration requirements and inspection programsEviction timeline management - Ohio's process is relatively fast (30-45 days typically), but only if done correctly from day oneContract provisions to insist on:- Written confirmation they're handling all required notifications (lead paint, security deposit interest if applicable, move-in/move-out documentation)- Proof of Ohio real estate license (required to manage properties for others for a fee)- Clear delineation of who handles legal filings if eviction is needed - some PMs coordinate but don't file; you want to know upfrontOne practical question to ask during interviews:"Walk me through how you handle a tenant who's 5 days past due on rent in Cleveland - what's your exact process and timeline?"

I’ve seen a lot of first-time 1031 investors surprised by this, so a few practical points from the financing side (not tax advice):There’s no true “zero-fee” debt — it’s usually a choice between higher rate / lower fees or lower rate / higher fees.

From your side, it is less compelling, but still practical.