Is it a good idea to borrow against your 401(k) to get the down payment to buy a home? If your employer allows you to borrow from your 401(k) plan, and most do, you can take the lesser of 50% of your vested balance or $50,000. The typical repayment term is five to fifteen years.
The interest you pay on the loan is not an issue, since you are borrowing from yourself, you would simply be paying interest back to yourself. A downside to borrowing against your 401(k) is that you are borrowing pre-tax dollars and paying the loan back with after-tax dollars. Hence, although the interest cost is meaningless since you are paying interest to yourself, there is a cost since you are taking out gross dollars and paying them back with net dollars. But that cost may not be as much as you think. Read a detailed article on Investopedia that talks more about this topic. It is best to discuss all of this with a tax or financial advisor before making a final decision.
If borrowing from your 401(k) keeps you from making your normal contributions, you will miss out on employer matching contributions, and you will miss out on growing your 401(k) for those years you are repaying your 401(k) loan.
Note: If you lose your job or get laid off at the employer where the 401(k) loan is based, you will have to pay the loan off quickly (usually within 60 to possibly 90 days), otherwise it is treated as an early withdrawal and subjected to the tax on ordinary income plus a 10 percent penalty.
The upside is that it may make your dream of home ownership come true, where it otherwise may not. Or you may have some cash saved for a 10% down payment, but a 401(k) loan may give you extra cash to reach to a 20% down payment and avoid mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance can be incredibly expensive, and a 401(k) loan may come out as the cheaper alternative. And a 401k loan, even given the downsides, can be the cheapest forms of borrowing right now, cheaper than credit cards, borrowing from family (unless your family will give you a gift with no repayment expected), and cheaper than borrowing more on your mortgage.
Again, you should consult an accountant or financial plannerto carefully weigh options if you are considering a 401(k) loan.
Read more blogs about getting a mortgage loan:
Brian Martucci is a loan officer for Capital Bank Home Loans, a division of Capital Bank, N.A. He has been in the mortgage industry since 1986 and has served in a number of roles, including loan processor, loan officer, mortgage broker, branch manager, and vice president. Brian Martucci – NMLS# 185421. His opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Capital Bank Home Loans or Capital Bank. Capital Bank, N.A.- NMLS# 401599. Click here for the Capital Bank, N.A. “Privacy Policy”.
Hello Brian,
How about money from a “Life Insurance.”? Since the last year we are paying more in order for us to take cash money if we need. The Insurance is from “The Knight of Columbus”, besides that Moritz has to take money out from the 401k because he will be 70 yrs.!
Good articles but sometimes seems to me hat contradict our situation. We will call you tomorrow.
Thank you very much,
Clorinda