Investing in Real Estate Using Self-Directed Retirement Accounts is the twelfth manual in a series of twelve courses required to obtain the Certified Commercial Advisor (CCA) designation presented by the National Association of Real Estate Advisors (NAREA). These twelve courses teach real estate professionals and others how to identify, broker, list, sell, lease, market, finance, analyze, value, account for, manage, and invest in commercial real estate. This book is organized into seven sections each relating to investing in real estate using self-directed retirement accounts. Section One begins with an overview of financial planning and discusses the role of real estate when it comes to asset allocation and investment diversification. Section Two provides an overview of the various retirement accounts available. Section Three specifically addresses the various types of individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and the requirements of each. It also explains the difference between Traditional and Roth accounts. Section Four explains how IRA and 401(k) accounts can be self-directed. It identifies permitted and prohibited self-directed retirement account investments. It also addresses the issues of prohibited transactions, disqualified persons, and self-dealing relationships. Section Five introduces Third Party Administrators and Custodian and the role each plays in a self-directed retirement account. Section Six explains how to buy real estate using a self-directed retirement account. It also provides a checklist for IRA owners of real estate. Section Seven explains the various types of real estate investment alternatives and gives examples of each real estate investment type.