Archive for April, 2008

Self-Directed IRA LLC - Self Directed IRA: Flipping Fixer-Uppers

Friday, April 25th, 2008

Self Directed IRA account holders enjoy the freedom of investing in real estate, without the hassles of having someone sign off on every expenditure. This is particularly important for those who choose to flip fixer-upper properties as an investment strategy.

Self-Directed IRA LLC - Self Directed IRA: 3 Tips for Maximizing Profits When Flipping Fixer Uppers

For those who are patient, flipping fixer-uppers can provide a phenomenal return on for a Self Directed IRA portfolio. Careful research is required to make sound decisions when flipping properties, but, that is the case with any investment. If flipping properties is how you choose to maximize your retirement income via your Self Directed IRA account, keep the following in mind.

Location is Key: This is the golden rule when buying real estate. And, it is particularly true when you are buying solely as an investment. This is easy to digest when you consider that it’s easy to fix what’s wrong with a property. But, you can’t change the dynamics of a location with a can of paint.

Another rule of thumb when flipper fixer uppers: Keep the needs, wants and desires of the buyer in mind. Look in neighborhoods where property values are on a steady climb, where buyers want to purchase because the schools are good, where city government is active and present, etc…

Cosmetic Renovations: Where possible, choose properties that need as little work as possible. This is especially true if you are just starting out. After all, you’re using the monies from your self-directed IRA LLC account to increase your portfolio’s value. Don’t fall in love with the wrong property and overspend to buy it, or fix it. Run the numbers. This is a business investment – nothing more, nothing less. Never forget that.

Call on a Rehab Specialist: Because it is your money coming out of your self-directed IRA LLC account, you should team up with a rehab specialist to inspect properties before buying. They can assess the structure soundness and give you an idea on what it will really cost to fix it. If you truly want to grow your self-directed IRA LLC portfolio buying and selling fixer uppers, this is one of the most astute moves you can make.

Green Retirement Investing with a Self Directed IRA

Sunday, April 20th, 2008

Interesting timing for this press release… Could investing more of your retirement funds in Green technology and companies with a Self Directed IRA be just what is needed to revive a sputtering economy and preserve our climate? With trillion dollars tied up in IRA and 401k retirement accounts, the growing Green industry emerging globally, investing in Green might be just the win-win situation investors have been waiting for to change the trajectory of our economic future….

Source PR Web:

Retirement investors who want to invest responsibly are no longer limited to specialized mutual funds. Anyone can now invest in a private company which shares their passion, whatever that may be, with a self-directed IRA from Entrust New Direction, IRA.

Lafayette, CO (PRWEB) April 17, 2008 — Retirement investors who want to invest responsibly are no longer limited to specialized mutual funds. Anyone can now invest in a private company which shares their passion, whatever that may be.

David Williard, like all retirement investors, wants diversity in his retirement fund and long term growth on his investments. He would prefer to minimize the impact on the environment, while making money. In Williard’s case, he has diversified his self-directed IRA by investing in a commodity that is about as green as they come — trees.

Catherine Wynne, president of Entrust New Direction, IRA, explains that with the self-directed IRA, “Our clients who want the freedom to invest in private companies and real estate can transfer old 401(k)s and standard IRAs into a self-directed IRA with us.”

Williard used his self-directed IRA to buy shares in a private company - The Bauers Family Tree Farm. The company bought a 260 acre cattle ranch in Costa Rica. The land, which had been clear-cut 50 years ago for cattle ranching, now has 45,000 teak trees on 140 acres. “120 acres is forest that will never be cut down,” said Joe Bauers, one of the owners of the Bauers Family Tree Farm. “We see monkeys, ocelots, armadillos — it’s really a jungle.”

Bauers and his investors are not planting teak trees as a charitable contribution — they expect a healthy return. After year ten, and in five year increments thereafter, some of the trees will be cut down and sold to thin the forest. Williard believes the tree farm is “poised for long term growth.”

Williard is part of a recent trend of investors who want to do good while doing well. A growing number of these people are using a self-directed IRA to invest in private companies of their choice.
Entrust New Direction has seen many clients grow their retirement fund while investing where their heart is.

Wynne said, “Our clients have used their IRAs to loan money to their church building fund, they’ve invested in companies who make energy efficient windows, and they can still invest in a green mutual fund, all within their self-directed IRA.”

Entrust New Direction IRA, Inc is located at 1300 Plaza Court N, Suite 103 Lafayette, CO 80026. They can be reached at 303-546-7930 or newdirectionira.com.

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Checkbook IRA

Saturday, April 19th, 2008

A Checkbook IRA allows you to have checkbook writing privileges of your IRA retirement account.

If you’re a seasoned real estate investor, you know just how fast expenses can add up on a piece of property. A few trips to your local Lowes home improvement store, a number of calls to your contractor or a simple mistake made by an inexperienced handyman means you have to shell out money, money, money - right out of your pocket.

Now imagine if in addition, you had to pay an additional fee to the custodian every time you needed to cover an expense related to your investment. On top of your financial losses, it can be an enormous expense of time and frustrating to say the least. Would you agree or disagree that this is no way to steward what is more than likely the most important asset you have - your IRA nest egg?

Having a checkbook IRA means practically being able to buy what you need when you need it and not when you can chase down your custodian for a signature. As you probably already know, sometimes the best investments are made before others learn about them. Without checkbook writing privileges, great investment opportunities could be missed.

What Does Checkbook Control Of Your IRA Mean?

Having checkbook control means you get to manage your IRA retirement account to maximize your retirement investment. Checkbook control of your IRA gives you the ability to invest in practically any way you see fit. The following is a short list of what you can invest in with your Checkbook IRA: undeveloped land, tax liens, hard money loans, private notes, commercial real estate, discounted paper - the list is practically endless.

Checkbook control gives you the ultimate control over your retirement funds. Call Truly Self Directed IRA (TSD-IRA) to learn more at 877-339-4559.

Packing Order

Thursday, April 17th, 2008

Optimal packing order is based entirely on preference. Some people like to pack their living room last - some like to pack rooms in two lots - one round to remove the non essentials, and one round to complete packing, others still like to pack where they can, when they can.

Deciding on what’s unimportant and can be packed first is a good place to start. After de-cluttering thoroughly, packing any books, and out of season clothes, you can start deciding on a packing schedule. Your packing schedule should take into account any redecorating or repairs you want to undertake - and should also allow for anything you need to use.

These essentials should be packed over the last day, so don’t leave out too much - or you’ll find it very difficult to finish packing in time. Wardrobes, your garage, and shed can be packed as one of your first tasks - if you don’t use your garage and its secure, you could then store any boxes there, or in cupboards.

Books, videos and DVD’s are a good place to start, leaving your essentials out until you are about to move. Packing your bedrooms, toys, and clothes should take place over the four weeks preceding your move, but you may want to consider packing as much as you can and keeping out only essentials. Home offices should keep only the times they need to complete and fulfill orders over the duration of the move - and pack anything that you don’t use as often.

Packing your dishes, cutlery and cooking utensils is probably best kept for last, alongside any of your home office materials you use regularly - over the morning of your move if you can - as is anything like shampoo, toiletries and work uniforms and equipment you use for your work. Packing might take over four weeks, but its worth it.

Article By US Auto Shipping - International Auto Transport 

Packing Fragile Items

Thursday, April 17th, 2008

Fragiles are some of the hardest items to pack. From ornaments to dishes, antiques, photos and lights, you’ll need to consider what you’re packing, and how best to transport them.

Large photos, framed items and paintings other wall based items are easiest wrapped in bubble-wrap and then placed carefully in a safe place – they’ll need to be monitored carefully when moving, as anything falling against them could cause serious damage, tear or break them.

By far and away, the most awkward items to move are computer monitors and TV are the hardest to move – unless you’ve kept their boxes, you’ll find it very difficult to either fit them into a box that you have acquired, or find that you need the boxes for other things.  These can be wrapped in sheets or dust covers and placed, with padding around them, in the van once the boxes are in.  Most removal companies bind layers to stop them from shifting or falling, so you can secure your monitors, and computers in the same way.

Fragile items, such as ornaments and dishes can go in polystyrene bead lined boxes, or be packed in bubble wrap, but its important to remember that this will cut down on the volume of the items you can fit into the box, and its still no guarantee that they will survive the move.

Careful packing does minimize the risk of things being broken, but one of the only ways to actually ensure that you have no breakages whilst moving is to take them with you, or, if hiring a firm, allowing them to pack.

Newspaper is a great buffer item, but remember, the ink may rub off when you’re in transit, giving you another chore at the other end.  You can get white “newsprint” paper from most box suppliers, which is considered to be best for packing and wrapping fragiles.

Article By International Freight Shipping - Auto Shipping to Hawaii 

Self-directed IRAs Allow for the Widest Range of Investment Choices.

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

Self-directed IRAs allow for a wide range of investment choices. The Self Directed IRA also improves the account owner’s opportunities to diversify within their IRA Investment portfolio. Self-directed IRA accounts will require a specialized custodian or administrator to open an account and invest with. These accounts have to be held with a custodian who allows non-traditional investments inside the IRA.

Some investments, such as life insurance or collectibles as defined by the Internal Revenue Service, are not permitted in IRAs. In addition, you cannot place a rental property you already own inside the account either.

IRA Investors are not required to take a taxable distribution from the IRA when investing in items such as real estate; they are simply making an investment within the IRA, just as they would with a mutual fund or stock. All of the income from the investment goes back into the IRA, and all of the expenses of the property are paid from the IRA, all without any taxes.

Investing with Multiple Investors with Your Retirement Funds

LLCs can serve as a valuable vehicle for certain IRA investment opportunities. First, if there are multiple investors going into a single real estate transaction, the LLC can facilitate the acquisition and disposition of assets by allowing a single member (e.g., managing member) to sign all documents for the other members. LLC’s can be taxed as partnerships therefore pass through to the IRA which is tax deferred. The advantage of using an IRA to invest in real estate can accelerate your wealth and ensure you don’t outlive your retirement money.

An IRA Owned LLC - A Powerful Tool For Investment Diversification

Thursday, April 10th, 2008

Enron is one corporate disaster that reminded Americans not to put their investment eggs in one basket. Thousands of its employees lost millions of dollars in retirement account funds. Couple this with the fact that many institutionally managed funds have excessive fees and are mismanaged, you may be thinking of other ways to take control of your IRA retirement funds.

Retirement Diversification

Hence, the need for true IRA account diversification. If you’re looking for a great way to increase your retirement wealth, an IRA Owned LLC (aka IRA LLC) is a great investment tool. Via an IRA-Owned LLC, you can exponentially increase your retirement account funds because an IRA-Owned LLC allows you to invest in real-estate related and other financial instruments. This includes, buying, selling, rehabbing and flipping properties; hard money lending; mortgages; mutual funds and more.

IRA-Owned LLCs Allow You To Grow Your IRA Investments Tax Deferred

The LLC portion of this IRA is the most exciting feature because it offers amazing tax advantages. The LLC is taxed as a partnership. And, who is its partner? The IRA. As IRAs are tax exempt entities, this means you can watch your investment grow, while not paying any taxes.

Now that benefit alone ought to be enough for you to take a look at self directing your IRA into an LLC. For more information and a free self directed IRA ebook visit the link…

Free Self Directed IRA Ebook

Tuesday, April 8th, 2008

Download your free self directed IRA ebook : The Trillion Dollar Secret. You can download your copy at the Truly Self Directed IRA (TSD-IRA) Advisor.

Take the next couple of moments and crack open this short e-book… It is highly recommended.

You will learn:

  1. how our the TSD-IRA process works
  2. the benefits of setting up a self directed IRA LLC

  3. the types of prohibitive IRA transactions you should stay away from
  4. and what makes the TSD-IRA concept unique.

Speaking of which, here are a few items to consider. We provide:

  1. Experienced Tax Attorneys who understand the self directed IRA
  2. Absolutely the Lowest Custodial Fees
  3. Checkbook Control of your IRA Account
  4. You the option of limited custodial intervention
  5. Experienced Self Directed IRA Advisors
  6. The ability to buy Real Estate and other assets inside your IRA
  7. Quickest turn around in the industry.

Give us a call at 877-339-4559 this up and coming week. We would like to assist you with your self directed IRA investment strategy.

Self Directed IRA Rules - Don’t bend them…

Monday, April 7th, 2008

 

Self directed IRAs and Real Estate IRAs give you the ability to choose from a variety of investment assets, such as private mortgages, notes, real estate, private placements and more. The greatest advantages of a real estate IRA is it frees up new cash for real estate investments. Also, real estate investors can apply their knowledge in real estate investing in which they are already comfortable with to their IRA account allowing them to earn tax deferred and even tax free returns.

There a couple rules associated with the IRA that should be addressed before you leap out and make investments. For example, leveraging an IRA can result in income taxes referred to as Unrelated Debt Financed Income (UDFI) that must be paid by the IRA. Taxes on both are calculated and reported on IRS form 990-T. For additional self directed IRA rules for debt-financed property and income tax review IRS Pub. 598 at www.irs.gov.

Generally, these UDFI taxes are higher than would be paid on income generated from a property that you buy and finance personally. In addition, you are not allowed to deduct property taxes or mortgage interest, and you can’t use depreciation.

All expenses associated with a real estate IRA including UDFI taxes must be paid from funds from the IRA and, therefore, there has to be enough liquidity in the IRA to cover these taxes. All rents and taxes are paid by the IRA.

For the complete list of rules and regulations, talk with an IRA custodian, self-directed IRA facilitator or a tax attorney familiar with IRA rules and regulations.