Real Estate IRA Consultation

Self-directed Real Estate IRA

Invest in real estate with your IRA.

Rentals, land, commercial buildings, real estate notes. A self-directed IRA can own them. Book a 30-minute phone call with the uDirect team and get a plain-English walkthrough before you open anything.

How your IRA buys, owns, and sells a property
Moving money from an existing IRA or old 401(k)
The IRS rules that trip investors up

Rather talk now? Call (866) 447-6598. A real person picks up.

Pick a time for your 30-minute call Choose a slot below. You'll get a confirmation email right away.

Calendar slow to load or no times showing? Email info@uDirectIRA.com and we'll get you scheduled.

Since 2009Helping investors self-direct their retirement accounts

$1B+In assets under administration

BBB A+Rated by the Better Business Bureau

Kaaren HallFounder & author of Self-Directed IRA Investing: A BiggerPockets Guide

How a real estate IRA works

Your IRA buys the property. Your IRA collects the rent.

A self-directed IRA is a regular IRA that can hold more than stocks and funds. When it holds real estate, the account is the owner on title, and every dollar in or out moves through the account.

Row of single-family homes on a residential street

The IRA buys

The purchase is made with IRA funds and titled in the IRA's name, not yours.

The IRA earns and pays

Rent goes back into the IRA. Taxes, insurance, and repairs are paid out of it.

The IRA sells

Sale proceeds return to the IRA, ready for the next investment you choose.

Account type sets the tax treatment. Traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs and Solo 401(k)s can all hold real estate. Traditional accounts grow tax-deferred; Roth accounts can grow tax-free for qualified withdrawals. Talk with your CPA about which fits your situation.

Thinking about buying property with your IRA?See how it would work for your situation on a 30-minute call. No obligation.

Book my 30-minute call

What qualifies

Real estate your IRA can hold

uDirect handles a wide range of IRS-allowable real estate transactions. A few of the most common:

Single-family rentals

Duplexes, triplexes & apartments

Commercial: office, retail, industrial

Raw land & undeveloped lots

Condos & townhomes

Mobile homes on a permanent foundation

Real estate notes & second mortgages

Partial notes

Real estate purchase options

Tax lien certificates

Not on the list?Bring it to your call and we'll tell you whether it qualifies.

Book a call

Before you make an offer

Six rules every real estate IRA follows

The IRS enforces these strictly. Breaking one can disqualify the account, so it's worth knowing them before you start shopping.

Rule 1

No property you already own

Your IRA can't buy from you, your spouse, parents, children, or any entity you control.

Rule 2

No personal use

You and your family can't live in it, vacation in it, or use it, even for a weekend.

Rule 3

Expenses come from the IRA

Taxes, insurance, repairs, and management fees are paid from IRA funds, never your own wallet.

Rule 4

Income goes back to the IRA

Rent and sale proceeds flow straight into the account, not your personal bank.

Rule 5

Title is in the IRA's name

The property is owned by your IRA, not you personally. We'll give you the exact titling language for your purchase.

Rule 6

Loans must be non-recourse

Financing is allowed only through a non-recourse loan, and the debt-financed share of income can be subject to UBIT.

Have a property and want to check it against the rules?Bring the details. We'll walk through what applies on the call.

Book my call Call (866) 447-6598

Step by step

From first call to closing

1
Book your 30-minute call
We learn what you're trying to do, explain the account options, and answer the questions you bring. Pick a time
2
Open your self-directed account
Traditional, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE, or Solo 401(k). The application is online.
3
Fund it
Roll over an old 401(k), transfer an IRA from another custodian, or make a contribution. We guide the paperwork.
4
Find your property
You choose the investment and do your own due diligence. uDirect doesn't evaluate investments or give investment advice.
5
Direct the purchase and close
Submit the investment direction form. We coordinate with the title company so the property closes in the IRA's name.

Who you'll talk to

Main Street, not Wall Street. Built for investors who'd rather own something they can drive by.

Kaaren Hall founded uDirect in 2009 after seeing real estate investors struggle to use their retirement money for the deals they knew best. Big custodians didn't understand alternative assets, and the ones that did were slow and hard to reach.

So uDirect runs on flat fees instead of a percentage of your assets, and a team that has processed thousands of real estate transactions and answers the phone.

Author, Self-Directed IRA Investing: A BiggerPockets Guide
Board of Directors, Retirement Industry Trust Association (RITA)
Founder, Orange County Real Estate Investors Association (OCREIA)

From account holders

What working with the team is like

"uDirect IRA Services have made setting up my new account and performing services to utilize my self-directed IRA to purchase property... The Transaction Team met or beat every deadline."

Jeff K.uDirect account holder

"My CPAs referred me to this company and they were super helpful in explaining the retirement investing process to me."

Hsiao L.uDirect account holder

"I enjoyed my interaction with every member of their team. I received help and quick responses at every step."

Trevor E.uDirect account holder

Excerpts from reviews published on udirectira.com. Individual experiences vary.

Book my 30-minute call

Common questions

Real estate IRA FAQs

Can I buy a rental property with my IRA?

Yes. A self-directed IRA at uDirect can purchase single-family homes, multi-family buildings, commercial property, and more. The IRA owns the property, collects the rent, and pays the expenses. You make the investment decisions; uDirect handles the account paperwork.

Can my IRA get a mortgage?

Only a non-recourse loan, which is secured by the property alone, not your personal credit. Standard mortgages aren't allowed inside an IRA. Lenders that offer non-recourse loans to IRAs exist, though terms are usually less favorable than conventional loans, and debt-financed income may be subject to UBIT. Talk with your CPA before using financing.

Can I fix up the property myself?

No. You can't perform labor or supply materials for IRA-owned property, even for free. The IRS treats that as a prohibited transaction. All work has to be done by independent third parties and paid from the IRA.

Does uDirect help me pick a property?

No. You find and evaluate every investment yourself. uDirect does not evaluate, endorse, or recommend investments. Our job is processing your transactions correctly and keeping the account in order.

What happens when the IRA sells?

Proceeds go back into the IRA, not to you personally. For Traditional IRAs, gains stay tax-deferred until withdrawal; for Roth IRAs, qualified withdrawals may be tax-free.

Can I take the property out of the IRA later?

Yes. In retirement you can take the property as an in-kind distribution instead of selling it. A current appraisal sets the fair market value, which is treated as taxable income for Traditional IRAs. Qualified Roth distributions may be tax-free.

How long does an IRA real estate closing take?

Longer than a personal purchase, because the custodial paperwork adds a step. Timing depends on the transaction type, how quickly forms are completed, and the title company. Bring us in early and closing goes more smoothly.

What happens on the 30-minute call?

We ask what you're hoping to do, explain the account types and how funding works, walk through the rules that apply to real estate, and answer your questions.

Ready when you are

Have a property in mind? Bring it to the call.

Thirty minutes with a team that has handled real estate IRAs since 2009. You'll leave knowing how the process works and what it would take for your situation.

Pick a time Call (866) 447-6598