Revolution RX

Whether you call it a self-directed IRA account or a checkbook IRA account, what is means to you is options. As in, getting a bigger return on your retirement account dollars by investing in real estate.

Real estate investing is a very diversified field, which can stymie some investors when it comes to determining how to invest their money. It needn’t be at all, however. Asking yourself a few questions will help you to quickly put together a real estate investment strategy for your self-directed IRA account funds.

Self Directed IRAs: 3 Real Estate Investment Strategy Questions to Ask

Investor Personality: As in, what type of investor are you? Do you like to take chances, are you super conservative. Or, do you fall somewhere in between the two. Knowing your investor personality will guide in selecting the most appropriate investment that won’t cause you constant worry and stress.

Is retirement looming, or in the distance? This question is designed to highlight which options you can safely take advantage of with your self-directed IRA account funds. Like any other type of investment, some real estate options are riskier than others. The closer retirement is, the less time you have to recover from mistakes. So, you may want to consider safer options like buying and holding property (eg, for rental income).

How much do I need to maintain my lifestyle during retirement? Chart out how much you’re going to need if your retirement last 20, 25 and 30 years. Looking at the numbers will tell you exactly what type of real estate investments you should be taking advantage of to maximize your checkbook IRA account investment.

There are quite a few more lessons to add to this list. But answering these three will go a long way towards helping you to formulate an investment strategy for your self directed IRA account monies.