He had turned his paper wealth into brick and mortar, proving that with the right custodian and a strict "hands-off" policy, you really can build a house out of an IRA.
"First," Sarah explained, "you move your money. You find a who allows alternative assets. You don't close your old account; you just roll the funds into this new SDIRA. It’s like moving your tools from a flimsy plastic shed to a reinforced workshop." Step 2: The Golden Rule (No Self-Dealing) how to use ira to buy real estate
"It stays in the tax-sheltered bubble," Arthur realized. He didn't pay a dime in capital gains or income tax on the rent. When the water heater blew, he didn't reach for his personal checkbook; he sent a digital request to his custodian to pay the plumber from the IRA funds. The Foundation He had turned his paper wealth into brick
"Here’s the catch," Sarah warned, her pen hovering over the pad. "This isn't a beach house for you to sip margaritas in. The IRS says this is an , not a second home. You can’t live there, you can’t use it as an office, and you can't even pick up a hammer to fix a leaky faucet yourself. That’s 'sweat equity,' and the IRS hates it. You have to hire professionals for everything." Step 3: The Purchase You don't close your old account; you just
Six months later, the duplex was rented. Arthur watched the mail, but the rent checks didn't go to his mailbox. They went directly to his SDIRA custodian.
Arthur found a duplex three miles away. The SDIRA was the buyer—not Arthur. "The check comes from the custodian," Sarah said. "The deed will read something like 'ABC Trust Company FBO Arthur’s IRA.' " Because Arthur had enough in his account to pay cash, the process was seamless. If he’d needed a loan, it would have had to be a , meaning the bank couldn't go after Arthur personally if things went south—only the property itself. Step 4: The Flow of Cash