"While your 401(k) plan may not offer real estate in any form, the fact is, you can own real estate in your retirement plans. Retirement plans are by nature long-term investments. And, you can't get much more long term than real estate. But you must keep in mind that you'll be able to invest only for income and appreciation. You can't deduct depreciation, as you can in a taxable investment" (Schnepper, na).

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From Business Week, February 6, 2006 Issue by Toddi Gutner

"Creating a self-directed IRA is easy. You can ask a bank's trust department or sign up with a custodial firm (table). They keep the books, disburse money, and collect profits for the IRA, but they may not give investment advice. Make sure the account holds enough cash to meet fees and expenses. Trust Administration Services, for example, charges $35 to open an account, a $150 yearly record-keeping fee, transaction fees of $5 to $250, and an annual asset-holding fee of $10 to $80. For real estate investments, you may also need annual appraisals" (Gutner, 2006).

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From Nuwire Investor, May 27, 2008 Issue by David Nilssen

"Using self-directed IRA funds to purchase income-generating real estate is a profitable strategy an ever-growing number of investors are employing. These accounts (a.k.a. real estate IRAs) can buy rental property as an investment, just as they would buy stock market securities. This means self-directed IRA holders can use their retirement funds to purchase real estate without incurring early distribution taxes or penalties and they can realize the rental payments as tax-deferred income within their IRA" (Nilssen, 2008).

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From Realtor, September 1, 2003 Issue by Kelli Click

"Most IRA custodians that hold real estate will usually allow you to purchase raw or vacant land, residential properties, or commercial buildings for your portfolio. In addition, some custodians may permit foreign property or leveraged property" (Click, 2003).

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Other articles for consideration:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2007/06/01/100051012/index.htm

http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/11/pf/updegrave_0509/index.htm

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS184666+08-Apr-2008+PRN20080408

http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2005/03/IRA.html

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/GuardWealth/6-06-16-RealEstateCan.htm