Meet Rachel Engel. The newest team member here at Stiles Financial Services. She is a Corporate Business Development Specialist, working hand-in-hand with Kristine to help grow the 401(k) side of things. We are so happy to have her here and can’t wait for you all to meet her. She has a unique background, with an Art History degree, and if you’ve ever been to the Stiles Financial offices, you’ll know just how insightful that can be. Next time you’re here, make sure to meet Rachel and get some insights on Susan’s curated art collection on our walls. 

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Did you know that Stiles Financial Services was recognized as a 2025 Newsweek® Top Financial Advisory Firm in the United States?!  And we have you, our clients, to thank!

Hey everyone, I’m Bradford Aylin with Stiles Financial Services, and welcome back to the Financial Flash. Today, we’re talking about a strategy that surprises a lot of people — owning real estate inside an IRA.

Most investors know they can hold things like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds in an IRA. But you canalso hold real estate — like a rental property or a piece of farmland — inside one. It’s an option that can add diversification to your retirement portfolio, but it’s also one that comes with strict rules and added complexity, so it’s definitely not for everyone.

Let’s talk about how It works — and Why Most People Don’t Know About It
If you call your brokerage firm and say, “I’d like to buy a rental property inside my IRA,” they’ll probably tell you it’s not possible. That’s because most traditional IRA custodians limit you to the usual investments.

To invest in real estate, you need what’s called a self-directed IRA. It follows the same tax rules and contribution limits as any other IRA, but it lets you invest in alternative assets — things like real estate, private loans, or even farmland — that traditional custodians don’t allow.

Here’s the catch: with that flexibility comes more responsibility. You’re on the hook for due diligence, recordkeeping, and following IRS rules to the letter.

Let’s go through an example
Let’s say your self-directed IRA buys a small rental property. The rent checks would flow back into the IRA, and any property expenses — like taxes, insurance, or repairs — must be paid from the IRA. And you personally can’t stay there, manage it, or rent it to family. It has to be treated purely as an investment.

There are strict rules regarding Real Estate inside an IRA
This is where many investors get into trouble. The IRS has very clear boundaries including:

  • 🚫 No personal benefit. You can’t use the property yourself or let friends or family use it.
  • 👪 No “disqualified person” transactions. That means no buying a property you already own and no renting it to your kids or parents.
  • 💸 All money stays inside the IRA. Income and expenses must flow through the account — using personal funds can disqualify the IRA.
  • 🏦 Financing adds complexity. If the IRA borrows money, that can trigger a special tax called UBIT.

Breaking any of these rules can blow up the tax benefits — so professional guidance is essential.

This approach can make sense if:

✅ You’re an experienced real estate investor and comfortable with the risks.
✅ You have other liquid investments for short-term needs.
✅ You’re planning to hold the property long term and benefit from tax-deferred or even tax-free growth.

But it’s probably not a good fit if you’re hoping to use the property personally, if you don’t have the cash inside the IRA to cover expenses, or if you might need the money before retirement.

At Stiles Financial Services, we want you to understand all the tools available to you — and real estate inside an IRA is one of those lesser-known options. For some investors, it can be a powerful way to diversify and grow wealth. For others, the complexity and restrictions outweigh the benefits.

If you’re curious about whether this approach could make sense for you – or if you’d like to talk about your broader retirement plan – we’d be happy to help. Reach out to us anytime. We’re here to make sure your financial plan works for you.

Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you in the next Financial Flash.