介绍：If you've got an urge to sock away something in your IRA besides stocks, bonds and mutual funds, you may want to consider real estate. Raw land, houses, condos, commercial properties and even mortgage notes -- you can use an IRA to broaden your portfolio.

Ruby Barnett, an insurance company office manager in Oakland, Calif., says she always wanted to invest in property.

"I read a book a few years ago, and it mentioned you could use an IRA to invest in real estate. My goal was to buy properties and flip them -- rehab and sell them," says Barnett. "But I ended up buying income property, so I have tenants. The rent goes into the IRA."