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How to Use Your IRA to Invest in Real Estate

ByDave Stopher

Sep 30, 2020 #property

Real estate is a sector that has, for a long time, been a source of wealth, and it can be a crucial strategy for building your IRA account. Most investors are often torn between investing in real estate or maximizing their retirement benefits proceeds. 

However, using your IRA proceeds to invest in real estate should not be a dilemma. You can use the individual retirement account proceeds to invest in real estate. Besides, you don’t have to incur the heavy withdrawal penalties when doing this, and this guide will take you through the process of using the IRA to invest in real estate. 

    • What you Should Know About Real Estate Investment with Self Directed IRA

      • The Loan Accrues Interest

When you use the IRA to invest in real estate, you will be required to pay interest on the loan that you have taken. However, investment experts at TheEntrustGroup.com would advise on such an investment since Self Directed IRAs offer a significant tax advantage to real estate investors, including tax-deferred or tax-free earnings, depending on the type of account that you currently use. It’s also important to note that the interest accrued is channeled to your retirement benefits account. As such, you will be paying the interest to your account; therefore, you have nothing to lose. 

      1. Real Estate Investment

The self-directed IRA channeled towards real estate refers to a 401(k) or IRA that buys direct ownership of a property. The IRS ensures that you make real investments. As such, you can invest in using strategies such as new construction spec homes, wholesale properties, flip and fix properties, tax liens, land, rental properties, or private mortgages.  

      • Borrowing Against a 401k

A great way to invest in real estate is by using the 401k, then take a loan against it. It’s important to note that there is a lot of paperwork involved in the application process, and as such, you will have to carefully plan and ensure that you’ve met all the IRS requirements first. Most IRA plans allow applicants to borrow against a 401k; therefore, inquire with your provider before considering pursuing the option.  

      • Rules of Investing in Real Estate

As an investor, it would be in your best interest to comply with all the stipulated rules. Once you buy a real estate asset with an IRA using improper channels, the IRA can disqualify the procedure, and as such, you will be obligated to pay tax. Some of the rules include; no renting of property to relatives, no hands-on improvement through sweat equity, and no self-dealing. You can’t mortgage the property; you are not eligible for personal benefits. It would help if you covered all costs other than the deposit and the IRA costs. Lastly, you won’t be eligible for if the property incurs a loss. 

      • Parties that Can Invest in Real Estate using their IRA

If you have the real estate sector’s experience, and you are sure of having returns by accumulating rental estates, flipping properties, purchasing raw land, then using the IRA would be an ideal investment solution for you. It would help if you considered deferring gains or withdrawals until you attain 609 years, although you can roll funds between projects without any tax consequences. 

      • Identifying Custodians for the Real Estate IRA

As earlier stated, IRAs come with tax benefits, and as such, it would be in your best interest to identify a custodian who monitors and reports to the IRS on matters to do with year-end balance. 

      • Investments that are Yours and Those That Aren’t

The real estate investment should be an investment, and it’s important to note that you can’t turn it into a vacation spot or an office for your business. Some parties are considered as disqualified. Some of the parties include; a party that owns over 50% of the property, service providers of the IRA, your grandchildren, spouse or kids, grandparents, parents, or spouse. It’s also important to note that you can’t buy a property from a disqualified party – it would be considered self-dealing. Also, the IRA cannot buy a property that’s in your possession. 

If you have plans to use your IRA to invest in real estate, the above guide consists of all the details you need. First, ensure that you perform research on job growth, income, demographics, and the market in general. It would be in your best interest to research custodians since the chances are high that you will need the party to place funds on your behalf. All distributions or dividends need to flow back to the custodian, but in the end, it’s an investment worth making.

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