What is a self-directed IRA?

A self-directed IRA is an individual retirement account that allows alternative assets like real estate, private equity, gold, crypto and notes, held by a specialized custodian.

Can I buy real estate in my IRA?

Yes. With a self-directed IRA you can buy rental properties, land, commercial buildings and private placements, following IRS prohibited transaction and UBIT rules.

What is UBIT and UDFI?

Unrelated Business Income Tax and Unrelated Debt-Financed Income tax may apply when your IRA uses leverage or operates an active business. Proper structuring minimizes it.

Self-directed IRA vs Solo 401(k) - which is better?

Solo 401(k) offers higher contributions, checkbook control and UDFI exemption for real estate leverage, ideal for self-employed. SDIRA fits W-2 earners and diversifiers.

Self Directed Investments — Self-Directed IRAs, Real Estate, Gold & Alternative Assets

About self directed investments office and community

Est. 2009 • Austin, TX
Independent, custodian-neutral education. We never hold your funds — we teach you to direct them.

01 — About Us

Wall Street sells products. We teach ownership.

SelfDirectedInvestments.com was born after 2008, when 401(k)s lost 37% while farmland, rentals and private credit held value. Our mission: give everyday Americans the same toolbox as family offices — legally, inside an IRA.

✓What we do: step-by-step SDIRA / Solo 401(k) guides, deal calculators, IRS rule breakdowns, custodian comparisons and 2026 contribution maps.
✓What we don't do: we don't sell securities, manage money or earn commissions. 100% education revenue keeps us unbiased.
✓Who we serve: landlords, physicians, freelancers, crypto holders and pre-retirees seeking diversification beyond S&P 500.

🔍 Radical Transparency
Every fee, UBIT example and risk disclosed with math.

⚖️ IRS-First Compliance
Reviewed by CPAs & ERISA counsel. No prohibited transactions.

🏘️ Real Assets Focus
Cash-flowing rentals, gold, private businesses — not meme stocks.

📚 Free Forever Core
120+ free lessons. Premium tools fund free content.

How It Works Read Research

2009

Founded after crash

First guide: “Buy rentals in your IRA legally” — 40k downloads.

2016

Crypto IRA lab

Tested Bitcoin in SDIRA before Fidelity offered it.

2021

84k students

Launched Solo 401(k) checkbook course + UBIT calculator.

2026

Awwwards-level hub

Interactive tools, video deconstructions, live deal rooms.

02 — Beyond Stocks

7 assets your broker never told you about

All allowed in a self-directed IRA if you follow IRS §4975. Click Insights for deep dives.

🏠

Rental Real Estate

Single-family, duplexes, syndications. Avg 11-15% cash-on-cash in Sunbelt. Use non-recourse loans to avoid UDFI surprises.

● POPULARITY 98% • RISK: MEDIUM

🪙

Gold, Silver & Metals

IRS-approved bullion .995+ purity, held in depository. Hedge for 2025 inflation regime. No collectibles.

● HEDGE 92% • RISK: LOW

₿

Crypto IRA

BTC, ETH in cold storage IRA LLC. Tax-free Roth growth. Volatility high — position size 2-7%.

● VOLATILITY HIGH • UPSIDE 10X

📜

Notes & Private Lending

First-lien deeds at 9-12%, 6-18 months. Be the bank. Perfect for Solo 401(k) checkbook speed.

● YIELD 9-12% • RISK: MEDIUM

🚀

Private Equity & Startups

Reg D funds, LLC stakes, pre-IPO. $25T private market now accessible. Requires accredited status often.

● LONG HOLD 5-10Y • IRR 18%+

🌾

Land, Tax Liens & Energy

Tax liens 8-16% statutory, raw land banking, oil royalties. Niche, high diligence, low correlation.

● NICHE • DILIGENCE HEAVY

03 — Process

Open & fund in 4 steps, invest in week 2

Choose Account

Traditional, Roth, SEP or Solo 401(k) with checkbook. We quiz you in 60 seconds.

Rollover Tax-Free

Direct transfer from old 401(k)/IRA in 3-7 days. No taxes, no penalties.

Pick Custodian

Compare 12 vetted custodians by fee, speed, asset support. $199-$399/yr typical.

Direct the Deal

Send investment direction form. Custodian funds LLC/escrow. You manage the asset.

⚠️ Avoid #1 killer: Prohibited transactions (buying from yourself, personal use, paying yourself). Our free checklist saves $50k+ penalties.

Get Compliance Checklist

Self-Directed vs Brokerage IRA

Feature	Brokerage IRA	Self-Directed IRA / Solo 401(k)
Stocks / ETFs / Mutual Funds	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Real Estate, Notes, Gold, Crypto, Startups	❌ No	✅ Yes — 40+ asset classes
Checkbook Control	❌ No	✅ Yes (Solo 401k / IRA LLC)
2026 Max Contribution	$7,500 IRA	$69,000 Solo 401(k) + $7,500 IRA
Leverage without UDFI (real estate)	—	✅ Solo 401(k) exempt
Annual Fees	0–1% AUM	Flat $199–$399, no AUM %

04 — Math of Freedom

How fast can alternatives compound?

Drag the sliders. Assumes tax-deferred compounding inside SDIRA. Historical rentals ~12%, notes ~10%, S&P ~10% but with higher drawdowns.

Initial Rollover $ 50000 Monthly Contribution $ 800 Annual Return % 12 Years 20

Solo 401(k) allows 9x larger contributions than a standard IRA if self-employed. Compare accounts →

PROJECTED TAX-ADVANTAGED BALANCE

$1,124,000

Contributions: $242,000 • Growth: $882,000

Start My Rollover

05 — Accounts

Pick your tax shield

MOST FLEXIBLE

Roth SDIRA

Pay tax now, never again. Best for crypto, high-growth startups. $7,500/yr ($8,500 if 50+).

✓Tax-free withdrawals after 59½
✓No RMDs for owner

Choose Roth

● HIGHEST LIMITS

Solo 401(k) Checkbook

For self-employed, no employees. $69,000/yr, $500k+ loans, UDFI-exempt leverage.

✓Write checks instantly, no custodian delay
✓Borrow up to $50k from plan

Choose Solo 401k

CLASSIC

Traditional SDIRA

Pre-tax deduction today. Ideal for rentals & notes if you expect lower bracket in retirement.

✓Immediate tax deduction
✓Rollover any old 401(k)

Choose Traditional

★★★★★

“Moved $210k from a stagnant 401(k) into two duplexes inside my SDIRA. $2,850/mo tax-deferred. Wish I’d learned this at 30, not 47.”

— Marcus T., Landlord, Tampa
Verified student • 2025

★★★★★

“The UBIT calculator alone saved me $18k. I switched a leveraged deal to my Solo 401(k) and legally avoided UDFI.”

— Dr. Elena R., Dentist, Austin
Verified student • 2026

06 — Compliance

IRS rules, in plain English

Self-direction is legal since 1974 (ERISA). You just must avoid self-dealing. Here are the 5 questions we get daily.

Can I live in a property owned by my IRA? +

No. Neither you nor disqualified persons (spouse, parents, kids, fiduciaries) can have personal use. Violation = full distribution + 10% penalty if under 59½. Rent it to unrelated tenants only.

What taxes apply to leveraged real estate? +

If your IRA uses a non-recourse loan, debt-financed profit is subject to UDFI (up to 37%). Solo 401(k)s are exempt — a major reason active investors prefer them for leverage.

How much does a custodian cost? +

Flat $199–$499/year + $75–$250 per transaction. Avoid % of assets fees — they eat compounding. We compare 12 custodians quarterly.

Can I hold crypto and gold together? +

Yes, in separate depositories/wallets titled to the IRA. Gold must be .995+ and stored with approved depository, not home safe (no “home storage IRA” loophole).

How fast is a rollover? +

Direct trustee-to-trustee: 3–10 business days. Indirect (60-day) rollovers limited to 1 per 12 months. We provide letters and forms.

08 — Start Today

Get the free 2026 SDIRA Playbook (47 pages)

Contribution limits, custodian comparison, 9 deal structures, UBIT worksheet + prohibited transaction checklist.

✓IRS 2026 limits & deadlines calendar
✓Real closing statements from 3 rentals
✓15-min rollover call (no sales pitch)

Retire on real assets, not Wall Street hype.