Using 401(K) to Buy a House: Should You Do It?

If you’re short on cash for a down payment, and you happen to have a retirement plan at work, you might be wondering if you can use a 401(k) to buy a house. The short answer is yes, you are allowed to use funds from your 401(k) plan to buy a home. It is not the best move, however, because there is an opportunity cost in doing so; the funds you take from your retirement account cannot be made up easily.

Here’s a look at the details of tapping your 401(k) for the joys of homeownership, along with some better alternatives. Throughout, we’ll assume that you are under 59½ years old and still employed.

A Quick Review of the 401(k) Rules

A 401(k) account is earmarked to save for retirement—that’s why account holders get the tax breaks. In return for giving a deduction on the money contributed to the plan and for letting that money grow tax-free, the government severely limits account holders’ access to the funds.

Not until you turn 59½ are you supposed to withdraw funds—or age 55, if you’ve left or lost your job. If neither is the case, and you do take money out, you incur a 10% early withdrawal penalty on the sum withdrawn. To add insult to injury, account holders also owe regular income tax on the amount (as they would with any distribution from the account, whatever their age).

Still, it is your money, and you’ve got a right to it. If you want to use the funds to buy a house, you have two options: borrow from your 401(k) or withdraw the money from your 401(k).

401(k) Loans

Of the two, borrowing from your 401(k) is the more desirable option. When you take out a 401(k) loan, you do not incur the early withdrawal penalty, nor do you have to pay income tax on the amount you withdraw.

But you do have to pay yourself back—that is, you have to put the money back into the account. You have to pay yourself interest, too: typically, the prime rate plus one or two percentage points. The interest rate and the other repayment terms are usually designated by your 401(k) plan provider or administrator. Generally, the maximum loan term is five years. However, if you take a loan to buy a principal residence, you may be able to pay it back over a longer period than five years.

Bear in mind that although they’re being invested in your account, these repayments don’t count as contributions. So, no tax break for you—no reduction of your taxable income—on these sums. And of course, no employer match for these repayments, either. Your plan provider may not even let you make contributions to the 401(k) at all while you’re repaying the loan.

How much can you borrow from your 401(k)? Generally, either a sum equal to half your vested account balance or $50,000—whichever is less.

401(k) Withdrawals

Not all plan providers allow 401(k) loans. If they don’t—or if you need more than the $50,000 max you’re allowed to borrow—then you have to go with an outright withdrawal from the account.

Technically, you’re making what’s called a hardship withdrawal. Whether buying a new home counts as a hardship can be a tricky question. But generally, the IRS allows it if the money is urgently needed for, say, the down payment on a principal residence.

You are likely to incur a 10% penalty on the amount you withdraw unless you meet very stringent rules for an exemption. Even then, you will still owe income taxes on the amount of the withdrawal.

You’re only limited to the amount necessary to satisfy your financial need, and the withdrawn money does not have to be repaid. You can, of course, start replenishing the 401(k) coffers with new contributions deducted from your paycheck.

Drawbacks to Using Your 401(k) to Buy a House

Even if it’s doable, tapping your retirement account for a house is problematic, no matter how you proceed. You diminish your retirement savings—not only in terms of the immediate drop in the balance but in its future potential for growth.

For example, if you have $20,000 in your account and take out $10,000 for a home, that remaining $10,000 could potentially grow to $54,000 in 25 years with a 7% annualized return. But if you leave $20,000 in your 401(k) instead of using it for a home purchase, that $20,000 could grow to $108,000 in 25 years, earning the same 7% return.

Alternatives to Tapping Your 401(k)

If you must tap into retirement savings, it’s better to look at your other accounts first—specifically IRAs—especially if you’re buying a first home (or your first home in a while).

Unlike 401(k)s, IRAs have special provisions for first-time homebuyers—people who haven’t owned a primary residence in the last two years, according to the IRS.

First, look to take a distribution from your IRA—if you have one. You may be able to withdraw IRA contributions without penalty due to a qualified financial hardship. You can also withdraw up to $10,000 of earnings tax-free if the money is used for a first-time home purchase. As a first-time homebuyer, you can take a $10,000 distribution without owing the 10% tax penalty, although that $10,000 would be added to your federal and state income taxes. If you take a distribution larger than $10,000, a 10% penalty would be applied to the additional distribution amount. It also would be added to your income taxes.

The Bottom Line

The best use of 401(k) funds for a home would be to satisfy an immediate cash need (e.g., earnest money for an escrow account, down payment, closing costs, or whatever amount the lender requires to avoid paying for private mortgage insurance).

Bear in mind that taking a loan from your plan could affect your ability to qualify for a mortgage. It counts as debt, even though you owe the money to yourself.

However, If you need to take a distribution from retirement savings, the first account you should target is a Roth IRA followed by a traditional IRA. If those don’t work, then opt for a loan from your 401(k). The option of last resort would be to take a hardship distribution from your 401(k).