A Self-Directed IRA is no different than any other IRA. Having a Self-Directed IRA simply means you are allowed to direct the investments of the IRA. Many custodians claim they allow you to self-direct your IRA investments, but then turn around and restrict what you can invest in. A truly Self-Directed IRA allows you to make the decisions without restriction.
No. You DO NOT take money out to purchase real estate or anything else you want to buy. It is just a purchase of your IRA or your Self Directed IRA LLC. There are no taxes or penalties. Instead of buying 1,000 shares of Microsoft or any other typical stock, your IRA is just making a different type of investment. The method of doing so is different but the tax ramifications are the same.
You can only receive checkbook control with the Self Directed IRA LLC. With a self-directed custodian, you get more control than you get with a traditional custodian, but you still have to get permission from the custodian for every little thing you do. This is problematic, unnecessary and annoying. Further, with a time sensitive investment it puts you at a huge disadvantage – and what real estate purchases aren’t time sensitive. If you don’t move quickly, you may miss out on a great opportunity. Think of tax liens and tax deeds sold on the courthouse steps; you need to have checkbook control since payments are due after the auction is completed. With the Self Directed IRA LLC you have the checkbook, authority to write checks so you can make an investment without delay. This ensures that your IRA is able to make the best investments at the best prices. Also with the Self Directed IRA LLC your IRA will be subject to fewer and lower fees from the custodian than is typical with Self-Directed IRAs that do not hold an LLC. Thus, there is more money for your retirement, which is the whole goal of an IRA. You obtain the ability to manage the property, collect the rent and pay the bills. Unlike just having a Self-Directed IRA which put restrictions on what you can do, the Self Directed IRA LLC structure allows you to advertise for renters, collect and deposit the rent checks, pay the real estate bills, etc. This can save your IRA a lot of money and helps provide a more comfortable and prosperous retirement for you.
The only downside is that some people don’t want to be in charge of their own retirement investments. They are happy having someone else make all the decisions. A Self-Directed IRA is not right for them. For the rest of us who want to be involved in our retirement investments and make decisions that will affect our retirement, there are no downsides. Just be aware of the prohibited transactions / restrictions (no self-dealing). We firmly believe that you are the best steward for your money. Nobody cares as much about your retirement as you do.
$161 – $180 a year… Whether you have $50,000 or $500,000 in your IRA.
Traditional IRAs, SEP IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, Coverdell Education Savings (ESA) a.k.a. Educational IRAs, Qualified Annuities, Profit Sharing Plans, Money Purchase Plans, Government Eligible Deferred Compensation Plans, Keoghs
Absolutely!! Currently less than 3% of retirement accounts are invested in non-traditional investments (anything other than Dow & Nasdaq stocks, bonds, CDs, etc), and less than 2% are invested in Real Estate, but that is changing. More and more individuals are becoming more and more frustrated with the options offered by their current custodians. Individuals are exploring investments that they can see and touch and that have some tangible value such as Real Estate. They have seen the outstanding returns that investors have historically received in Real Estate and want to move all or part of their retirement money into various Real Estate investments. Within the broad category of Real Estate there are many options for investment: Residential rentals, commercial properties, condominiums, manufactured homes, raw land, real estate in foreign countries, trust deeds / mortgages, and mortgage pools.
The IRS makes the following statement on their website “…..because of administrative burdens, many IRA trustees do not allow IRA owners to invest IRA funds in Real Estate. IRA law does not prohibit investing in Real Estate but trustees are not required to offer Real Estate as an option.”
Likely because your current broker won’t let you invest in Real Estate through their custodian. Just because that isn’t something they offer doesn’t mean that you can’t do it; It just means that you can’t do it through them. It is a limitation that your broker is placing on your IRA, NOT one that the IRS is placing on your IRA. Or your current broker may just be ignorant. Either way, you can invest in Real Estate.
The Self Directed IRA LLC is the easiest way to get checkbook control over your IRA. A Self-Directed IRA account isn’t enough. You will still need to get permission and have someone else sign off on all investments you want to make. If you are ready to be in control of your IRA, you need the Self Directed IRA LLC.
Yes you can use your IRA money as the down payment and then have your Self Directed IRA LLC get a loan for the balance. However, you will not be able to personally guarantee the loan. It must be a non-recourse type of loan, which means that if your IRA fails to make payments, the only recourse the lender has is against the property itself. Further, there will be tax ramifications to doing so; UDFI (unrelated debt financed income) tax applies when a loan is obtained so you would want to confer with your tax professional about what forms would be necessary.
That depends. With just a self-directed IRA the answer is no. But with the Self Directed IRA LLC you have the ability to manage the property, collect the rent and pay the bills. Unlike just having a regular self-directed IRA which put restrictions on what you can do, the Self Directed IRA LLC structure allows you to advertise for renters, collect and deposit the rent checks, pay the real estate bills, etc. This saves your IRA a lot of money and helps provide a more comfortable and prosperous retirement for you.
Absolutely. Because of your increased buying power when you use leverage, the profits you make from the ability to use leverage can greatly outweigh the taxes implications.
Yes! Your IRA can invest outside of your home state and the U.S. There are many great investment opportunities in other countries.
Yes. Doing so would NOT constitute a prohibited transaction. However, you cannot vacation there.
Yes. Your IRA would be the original owner. You would use your IRA money to make the purchase and maintain the property. Any rents generated would be returned to the IRA. However, upon reaching retirement age, the property would be distributed out to you. Of course, you would have to pay taxes on the distribution.
Absolutely. Friends are not disqualified persons under the Code, and therefore, your IRA can make a loan to them for any purpose whatsoever (boat, airplane, hot tub, home improvements, etc.). Of course, you want to make sure that there are proper formalities and reasonable terms to the loan.
Yes. Your IRA can loan money to a real estate developer to finance the purchase of property or the development of property. Developers often look for private financing so it is a great way to get your IRA involved in real estate development. And because developers often pay an above market interest rate, the loan can be a great investment for your IRA.
Yes, you can buy a business using your IRA money but you would have to create a Self-Directed 401(k). Please contact us for details…
They will only let you invest your IRA in investments their firm offers. At a bank you will be limited to CDs. At a brokerage firm you will be limited to stocks and bonds. As a consequence (and unfortunately for many investors) it has been a well kept secret that they have other options for their IRAs. The traditional investment community has had control of over 97% percent of retirement accounts, and they have been making a great living off your accounts. Why would they want to let you know about alternatives that they would not be able to charge for?
As investors have become more disillusioned and frustrated with traditional investment choices, they have begun looking for alternatives. After the steep stock market decline, corporate scandals and corruption (e.g. Enron, ImClone, Worldcom), many investors are seeing their retirement accounts cut in half. They are finally ready to take control of their own investments. They often want more tangible investments such as real estate, deeds of trust, gas and oil.
When they ask their current Advisors and Brokers, they are typically told that such investments are illegal, too complicated or that it can’t be done. But those are ignorant and self-serving responses. Although the Advisor’s custodians and Brokers may not allow it, it can be done. It is just likely you can’t do it through your current custodian, so they will financially suffer if you move your money to someone who can. Rest assured, they aren’t going to tell you about it.
The traditional investment community has control and is making money off over 97% of the retirement accounts. Letting you know that you have other options to the stock and bond market risks losing the commissions and fees they charge on your retirement accounts.
This is a question that is frequently asked by investors who have never heard that they could invest in anything other than stocks and bonds in their retirement accounts. They have no idea that they can invest in Real Estate and many other investments. However, Real Estate has been an allowed investment since the day IRAs were created almost fifty years ago.
Find out for yourself by going to the IRS’s website https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plans-faqs-regarding-iras and clicking on Investments. Real estate is NOT mentioned as a disallowed investment just like stocks, bonds, mutual funds are not mentioned as a disallowed investment.
It is NOT a prohibited transaction for you to co-invest with your IRA. However, there are certain formalities that need to be adhered to, and there are some situations where it isn’t advised.
Yes. IRAs may purchase an undivided (and proportionate) interest in real estate.
Unrelated business taxable income (UBIT) would apply. Due to non-profit organizations encroachment on the business opportunities normally engaged in by taxable businesses, the IRS code was altered to include the provision in 1950.
Essentially, if a tax exempt entity (e.g., non-profit) engages in a business that is unrelated to its primary purpose, any income derived from such business will be subject to UBIT. IRAs are also subject to UBIT if they conduct unrelated businesses that produce profits.
For example, if an IRA forms an LLC to buy and operate a dry cleaner or gas station, businesses obviously unrelated to the primary purpose of an IRA, the net income will be taxed as UBIT (at the trust tax rate because an IRA is considered a trust under the tax code in this purpose). The change in the code was intended to level the playing field between tax exempt organizations and for-profit organizations conducting the same businesses.
Understanding what constitutes a prohibited transaction is very important when it comes to making investments within your IRA. The IRS defines a prohibited transaction as follows:
“Generally a prohibited transaction is any improper use of your IRA account or annuity by you, your beneficiary or any disqualified person. Disqualified persons include your fiduciary and members of your family (spouse, ancestor, linear descendant, and any spouse of linear descendant).” IRS Publication 590, IRC 4975 is the section that lays out the rules on prohibited transactions. Prohibited transactions generally involve one of the following:
In plain English, prohibited transactions are those transactions that violate the basic intent of the IRA. Your IRA must benefit rather than benefiting you personally. In other words, there can be no “self dealing” transactions. However, there are many ways in which you can invest your IRA and not be in violation of the prohibited transaction law. When your IRA benefits, you benefit because it is for your retirement.
The IRA holder and his or her spouse, the IRA holders ancestors, lineal descendants and their spouses; investment advisors and managers, any corporation, partnership, trust or estate in which the IRA holder has a 50% or greater interest; and anyone providing services to the IRA such as a trustee or custodian.
Yes. There is no sense in letting your retirement funds sit on the sidelines while you are looking for real estate investments. You can invest in publicly traded stocks, CDs, mutual funds, annuities, bonds, stock options, futures, etc. If you are an active day trader, with checkbook control you will be able to trade your IRA in a manner that your current broker does not allow you to trade using the Self Directed IRA LLC. For example, you probably have asked your broker if you can buy or sell Options (Calls and Puts). Or maybe you would like to write covered calls or do spreads and have been told no. The Self Directed IRA LLC allows you to trade your way.
Yes. You can move these 401(k) funds into the Self Directed IRA LLC. We do it all the time. We can facilitate the rollover so that you can unlock those funds for your next real estate purchase.
Yes. They can all be combined and then invested into your Self Directed IRA LLC so that your buying power is maximized. The only restriction is on 401(k) accounts; you generally must no longer work for the employer. You can usually combine multiple retirement accounts into one account. Or in the event that they can’t be combined, such as the case of a Traditional IRA and a Roth IRA, they can still be invested into the same Self Directed IRA LLC so that you still have maximum buying power.
No… and neither is a direct rollover.
Yes.
Yes but your ownership must be less then 50%
Absolutely.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes, and there is no limit.
We never hold or touch your money. The assets are held by the LLC not by us.
Typically yes. Since the client has checkbook control, the funds are in an FDIC insured bank account.
Yes.
Yes.
Remembering that all transactions must be done in the name of the LLC using its EIN.
Yes. We can discuss specific potential investments. Custodians cannot offer advice!!!
Yes.
Yes.
We offer lifetime support with the Self-Directed IRA LLC. You can contact us at anytime with questions about taxes, investing etc. You’ll find the answers from the custodians you have contacted will be considerably different than those we provided for you. The custodian is a product to us. We’ll find the best IRA strategy to meet your needs. We can also structure the deal so you and the IRA holders are shielded from the IRS. We offer the four following benefits:
At Asset Exchange Strategies, LLC we have had conversations with potential self-directed IRA clients many thousands of times and the myths continue to live on after 20 years in the business. Some things like Sasquatch or area 51 seem to perpetuate in people’s minds without any substantial evidence the concept is correct or myth. Let’s […]
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