Ideas for Finding Real Estate Investments for Your IRA

Most people do not realize that you can purchase and own real estate in your IRA. You can, and for the right person, it can be an excellent investment. Why buy real estate in your retirement account? I would say there are three reasons. First, diversification away from stocks and bonds gives your portfolio an asset that traditionally holds its value over time and has the opportunity to appreciate. Secondly, you understand and want to be involved in the management of the rental property. Real estate is not like a stock. It requires love and care to make it grow. Third, the opportunity for the annual income and the gain on sale to be tax-free. All gains inside an IRA account are tax-free.

How do I buy real estate in my IRA

The first thing you need if you want to purchase real estate in an IRA is to understand what a Self-Directed IRA is. Ordinary IRA custodians (like the big brokerage houses) are not interested or equipped to hold real estate in your IRA. They don’t offer real estate as an IRA option because

1. They don’t know how to generate revenue from an asset that they do not sell
2. They don’t want to deal with administrative burdens such as closings, tax bills, insurance, rental agreements, and annual valuations (which custodians are required to report to the IRS annually).

To own real estate inside your IRA, you must work with a company that will administer a “self-directed” IRA so that your investment choices are not limited to certain asset classes. Midland Trust Company is a perfect choice with a long history of reasonable fees and excellent service.

What are the different types of real estate you can buy in your Self-Directed IRA?

1. Rental Real Estate – The most common real estate investment in a self-directed IRA are rental properties such as single-family homes, commercial properties, and condominiums.
2. Raw Land – Many investors believe in the appreciation of good real estate and the low maintenance of raw land. This can also include leased farmland that generates cash flow.

Where do you get started finding a real estate deal? Well, there are many ways to locate or evaluate real estate opportunities, but they all require hard work. I am going to tell you a rule I learned 20 years ago that has always held true, I need to give credit to Jeff Tumberello, a local SWFL Real Estate investor, who I heard it from. The gain on the real estate is made when you purchase the property, not when you sell it. The moral of the story being, don’t overpay for the property; if you don’t get the right deal upfront, it can take years to make it up. I am not saying that is the only way to make money on a real estate investment, but it sure helps to get started by not overpaying.

So how do you find the deals? There is no right way to find real estate deals. Remember, you are looking for a property that has great potential to appreciate and cash flow. This can be a rehab flip or a long-term rental property with great potential. I am not trying to be sarcastic, but you probably won’t find it on Realtor.com under “new developments.”

Let me tell you how I have seen the best investors find real estate investments for your IRA.

1. Join a REIA Club (Real Estate Investment Association). There are national groups and local groups. Surround yourself with like-minded people looking for deals and are willing to share the knowledge they have learned. There are many types of Real Estate Groups, one place to look them up is meetup.com
2. Ask friends and acquaintances if they know of anyone interested in selling because you may be interested in buying. Without a real estate broker, you automatically save 5-6% of the purchase price. As mentioned before, the money is made on the purchase.
3. Scour Craigslist and look for the oldest listing on Zillow and Realtor.com. You are not looking for a beautiful house; you are looking for a property that will make you money. Also, follow up on a real estate deal that fell through. A contract may have fallen through because the roof was bad, but that may not scare you because your cousin is in the roofing business.
4. Have friends that are Realtors; they know of deals before they even hit the market. Realtors and a real estate office may have a pocket listing. A pocket listing is a property that the seller wants to get rid of but has not listed on the local MLS.

One last tip: if you don't know all the answers, know professionals who specialize in real estate.

Do you know how to calculate capital gains. We have a calculator that will help in this regard.

Understand how to structure the deal properly. This article may help you understand how to buy the property and how the income and expenses flow. 

Finally, know a good banker, preferably a community banker. A community banker can make the deal so much easier, and they can be a trusted source when you need advice on whether a property cashflows. It's worth noting that most properties purchased in Self-Directed IRAs are cash purchases and do not use a mortgage, but having a banker in your circle is always helpful.

For more information on how to set up a real estate IRA, check out Midland Trust’s Real Estate page. Buying real estate is not hard, but it does take hard work to stay on top of your investment. I always like the Warren Buffet philosophy; while you may not make money on every investment, make sure you do not lose money. It can be hard to recover lost money.

Midland Trust Resources for Self-Directed IRA Investments:

1. Real Estate IRAs
2. Types of IRA Accounts
3. How to Handle Income and Expenses

Happy real estate hunting.

Dave Owens

President & CEO of Midland Trust Company