I recently read an article with the following headline… "Retirement accounts can't be used for realty", she went so far to state that anyone who says it's ok is committing fraud!
Simply NOT true!
IRAs and Qualified Plans, also known as Keoghs (which include 401(k) plans, have been able to invest in real property for over 25 years. There are however, rules that go along with this that one must follow.
This concept is NOT for everyone, but it is possible to own real estate within your self-directed IRA or 401K. I am not the expert on this, but I can recommend an excellent company which is…The Entrust Group. They can help with the particulars of your individual situation, but here are some very (and I mean very) basic concepts to understand:
1. Your IRA/401K is a separate and independent entity and needs to be treated as such.
2. As a separate entity, your IRA/401K can own real estate, including foreign real estate, as an investment.
3. You may not use the property, nor can you collect rent, but your IRA/401K can!
So…if you want to buy a vacation home for your own personal use to go to the tropics a few times a year and rent it out the rest of the time…DON’T use your IRA/401K!
If, on the other hand, you want to buy property as an investment, renting it out and NOT using it personally until retirement age…then, by all means use your IRA/401K funds. But, before you do, speak to the folks at The Entrust Group, particularly, the Entrust office in New Jersey. They have offices all over the country, but I deal with the folks in NJ.
I have a free CD which I will be happy to mail to you, just click here to request it…in the comment box…type “free CD.” Or click here for an additional (video) explanation and to request the free CD.
Hit ‘em straight!
4 comments:
Great article!
Bob is 100% accurate. Be sure to use a qualified intermediary and abide by the major guidelines including:
1. No management by yourself or family.
2. All profits stay inside the structure until the appropriate time.
3. You cannot personally guarantee any loans inside and IRA.
There are other aspects which are important. The main one is to simply get started!
Doug
wwww.dacrowe.wordpress.com
dcrowe@themayanislands.com
Doug,
Thanks for the comments... http://www.the mayanislands.com development looks absolutely stunning!
Best regards,
Bob
Also buyers need to know (and we were never told by our Belizean Realtor) that you must form an entity first since Belize doesn't recognize the self-directed IRA, then register it with the country, then you have to file a tax return for it every year. It's still a good investment, esp since the real estate taxes are so low, but not as easy as we believed. We used the Entrust Office in PA (www.entrustcama.com)
Thank you for your comments and tips Kristen, can you recommend a legal firm with the knowledge of the Belizean requirements?
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