A Self-Directed IRA gives you the freedom to invest your retirement savings in more than just the typical stocks and bonds— to truly take charge of your retirement. One of the most common self-directed investments is real estate. In an increasingly volatile market, more and more investors are purchasing physical property to put their hard-earned money to work and real estate investors, well… they are taking advantage of their expertise. With so much information out there, it’s hard to know where to start. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions from Real Estate Investors to give you an idea of some of the pros and cons of this wealth-building vehicle. 1. Can I do repairs on my self-directed IRA owned property?   No. You cannot do repairs on a property owned by your self-directed IRA, no matter how small or easy the repair is. You are not allowed to do the repairs yourself, even if you are willing to do it for free or for reasonable fair wage. This is considered “sweat equity”, which is not allowed.  Any repair, improvement, or maintenance must be performed by a paid non-disqualified person.  A disqualified person is you or any direct lineal descendants or ascendants, as well as […] read more