Investor Insights Blog|Little-Known Funding Source for Real Estate Investments
Real Estate
Ohio resident David had grown frustrated during the past few years after having a couple of potential real estate investments fall through due to a lack of funding.
Recently, another opportunity presented itself. David learned of a pre-foreclosure property nearby that was being auctioned off. He knew that being able to make a cash purchase would increase his chances of winning the bid.
This time, David was ready. Through research and discussions with his financial advisor, he learned that he had the funding to purchase the property. He could purchase it in his retirement fund.
Investors can use self-directed IRAs and other retirement accounts to invest in a variety of assets, in addition to stocks and bonds that most investors know. Allowable investments include real estate, tax liens, promissory notes, private entities, and more.
To my surprise, I discovered there were many non-traditional assets such as real estate, tax liens and promissory notes that our retirement dollars could invest in using a self-directed IRA.
Sue, New York Investor
Self-directed accounts include the Individual Retirement Account (IRA), Roth IRA, 401(k), Simplified Employee Plan (SEP), and Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE), as well as Health Savings Account (HSA) and Coverdell Education Savings Account (CESA).
In a self-directed investment, money from an IRA or other account is used to invest in an asset, and all profits and expenses flow through the retirement account. Tax advantages include tax-free or tax-deferred growth within the account.
Though David just recently learned about the concept, self-directed investing is nothing new. Since IRAs were introduced in 1974, the IRS has only listed a handful of items that are not permitted in an IRA (the entire list can be found in IRS Publication 590).
Like David, other real estate investors are becoming aware of the possibility of self-directed investing. After years of investing in real estate, Lowell of California learned about the concept and decided to transfer his 403(b) account into a self-directed IRA. He then acquired a bank-owned property for just over $85,000.
Lowell rented the property for two years, providing consistent cash flow and growth back to his IRA, before selling the property. Between the rental income and the sale price, the property generated nearly a 77-percent return on investment (ROI).
An experienced real estate investor, Lowell prefers the idea of using his IRA over borrowing to fund his investments.
“Since my IRA now owns each property, I know that even if a property sits vacant, I am not losing money other than the necessary costs of insurance and taxes,” he says.
Laurie of Colorado learned about self-directed investing from her father, who is a real estate agent. She opened a self-directed IRA, and partnered with others, funding her LLC to buy a condo. Her husband’s IRA partnered with her LLC to buy another condo. As soon as she has enough saved in her IRA, Laurie plans to invest in a property 100 percent in her IRA.
“I wish I could do more of these self-directed investments,” she says.
For those who prefer not to directly invest in real estate or other assets, a self-directed IRA’s versatility allows for other possibilities. For example, some investors boost their retirement savings by loaning IRA money to other investors.
Susan from New York recently partnered with family members’ IRAs (three total) to loan a real estate investor money to rehab a house. She used a third-party servicer to structure the promissory note. During a 14-month term, the note yielded a return of over $42,000, a 25-percent ROI.
Susan recalls being delighted to learn about the possibility of investing in alternative investments with her retirement account.
“To my surprise, I discovered there were many non-traditional assets such as real estate, tax liens, and promissory notes that our retirement dollars could invest in using a self-directed IRA,” she says.
Self-directed investors aren’t limited to only investing with other self-directed investors. Christine from California is one of a group investing in a hotel being rehabbed in Ohio. She is funding her portion of the investment from her IRA. The IRA receives monthly income from room rentals, and Christine expects her IRA to receive a profit of about 25 percent once the hotel is sold.
More: Top 8 Ways to Invest in Real Estate with Other People’s Money
As with any investment, your due diligence is key. Before making an investment decision consult with a tax, legal, or financial professional.
In addition to the list of investments not permitted in an IRA, the IRS provides guidelines in IRS Publication 590 regarding:
More information on self-directed real estate investing rules can be found here.
Only certain custodians offer self-directed accounts because the required reporting and recordkeeping is unique. Equity Trust Company is one such custodian. Through its predecessor company, Equity Trust began offering self-directed accounts in 1983.
Video: Self-Directed Real Estate Investing Overview
Read more real-life examples of investors using their retirement accounts to fund real estate and other investments – download this digest of real-life examples.
If I invested in a rental property with my IRA, how does the rental income get into my account?
Can my IRA purchase real estate that I currently own?
Can my IRA purchase real estate that my corporation, partnership or LLC owns?
The above case studies are for educational purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Information included in the above case studies were provided by the investor and included with permission. Equity Trust Company does not independently verify all information provided by third parties.
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© 2026 Equity Trust®. All rights reserved.
Equity Trust Company is a directed custodian and does not provide tax, legal or investment advice. Any information communicated by Equity Trust Company is for educational purposes only, and should not be construed as tax, legal or investment advice. Whenever making an investment decision, please consult with your tax attorney or financial professional. Equity Institutional services institutional clients of Equity Trust Company. Brokerage Services Available Through ETC Brokerage Services, Member SIPC, and FINRA. *Founded in 1974 | Self-Directed IRA Custodian since 1983. The predecessor business to Equity Trust Company was established in 1974 and the IRS approved as a custodian in 1983. **Assets under custody and administration as of 03/31/2026.
Terms of UsePrivacy PolicySite Map
© 2026 Equity Trust®. All rights reserved.
Equity Trust Company is a directed custodian and does not provide tax, legal or investment advice. Any information communicated by Equity Trust Company is for educational purposes only, and should not be construed as tax, legal or investment advice. Whenever making an investment decision, please consult with your tax attorney or financial professional. Equity Institutional services institutional clients of Equity Trust Company. Brokerage Services Available Through ETC Brokerage Services, Member SIPC, and FINRA. *Founded in 1974 | Self-Directed IRA Custodian since 1983. The predecessor business to Equity Trust Company was established in 1974 and the IRS approved as a custodian in 1983. **Assets under custody and administration as of 03/31/2026.
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