With a self-directed Solo 401k also known as “Solo 401k Real Estate”, the trustee of the self-directed Solo 401k can invest the 401k funds in many types of real estate investments (e.g., homes, commercial buildings, apartment buildings, land, mobile homes, etc.). All of these real-estate asset types may be held inside a solo 401k similar to stocks and mutual funds.
With a self-directed Solo 401k for investing in real estate, the business owner serves as the trustee of the plan resulting in the ability to choose to invest the plan in real estate such as land, residential and commercial properties, to name a few.
Real Estate Purchase Methods using a Solo 401k Plan
In addition to an all cash purchase where just solo 401k funds are used to invest in real estate, the Solo 401k rules permit you to combine personal funds–this type arrangement is often referred to as Tenancy-in-common Ownership and special rules apply–with your Solo 401k in making the purchase. The rules further permit your Solo 401k to borrow from a bank or private lender to complete the purchase. This process of your Self-Directed Solo 401k borrowing from an outside party is referred to as a non-recourse loan. See definition below.
The general steps required to make a real estate investment with Solo 401k are:
- Determine price range and whether or not your Solo 401k will need to engage in non-recourse financing or participate in a tenancy-in common transaction.
- Choose the investment property
- If your Solo 401k will borrow money, find a lender and settle on the terms
- Make an offer to the Seller
- Have a third party (an attorney or Title Company) draw up the real estate purchase documents
- Confirm that the third party understands that your are making the purchase through your Solo 401k and as such the Solo 401k will be reflected as the purchaser
You as trustee of your Solo 401k will safe keep the following forms and documents in connection with the purchase:
- copy of the Purchase Contract
- copy of the Settlement Agreement
- copy of the Escrow Instructions
- copy of the preliminary (un-recorded) Deed
- copy of the loan documents (if your Solo 401k is getting a non-recourse loan)
- You as trustee of you Solo 401k will sign and forward the documents to the escrow agent and write a check from its checking account for the purchase.
Lastly, the above procedure assumes that you went through a Solo 401k Provider to Open a Solo 401k that allows you to trustee your own Solo 401k investments instead of going through a custodian that has their own procedures and also safe keeps the real estate documents and therefore charges holding fees.
Definitions
Tenancy-in-Common Ownership: allows you to buy real estate with personal funds and Solo 401k funds. Each will own a specific percentage of the property. As a result, the income and expenses associated with the investment will be proportionally shared based on the ownership percentage. This type of arrangement also permits you to invest your Solo 401k with family members such as your spouse or siblings. Again, the key is to adequately reflect each investor’s percentage of ownership on the paperwork and that the expenses and income are proportionally shared by each party to the transaction.
Non-recourse loan: affords your Solo 401k the option to take a loan from a financial institution or an investor for purchasing real estate. If the loan is not paid back by your Solo 401k as promised, the lender may take the Solo 401k-owned property used to secure the debt, but may not take recourse against any other assets of your Solo 401k.Simply put, your Solo 401k-related loan can never affect any assets other than those used to secure the loan.
