Using Your 401k To Purchase A Primary Residence
When you are first considering using your 401k or your traditional IRA to purchase real estate, it is a good idea to talk to your plan provider, plan administrator, or custodian.
According to the IRS rules, you are able to use the retirement funds in your 401k to buy a house.
If it is for your first home that will be your principal residence, you can have access to the money in your 401K.
There are two options when it comes to using your 401k to help you purchase a home.
You can either borrow money in the form of a loan or take the money from the 401k as a withdrawal.
The amount of money you are able to borrow from your 401k depends on the number of years you worked at your company and the guidelines of the IRS.
The amount you can borrow is the greater of $10,000 or half of the balance in your account that has been vested, but the loan cannot exceed $50,000.
If your company allows loans from your 401k, you will not be subject to an early withdrawal penalty.
However, you will incur a penalty if you leave your job before paying back your loan within a specific time frame.
Can I Use My 401 To Buy A House
As a homebuyer, youre incentivized to make a down payment of at least 20 percent of the purchase price of your home. If youre wondering can I use my 401 to buy a house, then the answer is yes. You can use the funds in your 401 to make or supplement your down payment so you can hit that 20 percent target. However, this comes with some caveats.
There are two main ways you can do this: withdraw funds from your 401 or take out a loan against your 401.
Borrowing from your 401 for your house is the most recommended option. Its like borrowing money from yourself. You can typically borrow up to half of your vested balance. Most 401 plans require that the loan is repaid within five years. However, its good to check with your employer, as some plans allow a longer repayment period if the funds are being used to purchase a home.
The second option is the 401 first time home buyer method. Simply withdrawing from your 401 before retirement age will get you into trouble. Youll be slapped with a 10 percent penalty for early withdrawal, and then again with income tax. If you are a first-time homebuyer, you are given a special exception to withdraw funds from an IRA account to buy your home. That means that if youre buying a home for the first time, you can rollover your 401 funds into an IRA, and then withdraw the funds needed without penalties. In the next section, well talk you through exactly how to rollover a 401.
The Pros Of Buying Property With A 401k
The primary benefit of buying investment property via a 401k is that youre able to do so by taking a loan that is both tax-free and penalty-free.
There are other tax benefits worth consideration. For instance, when purchasing a property with a 401k, any income generated from that property will not be taxed. Instead, the income is put directly into the 401k plan. This means that the owner never actually receives the income, but theyll have this income available in their 401k upon retirement.
However, there is one important exception to this rule: loans against a 401k need not be the only investment in a rental property. Lets say you take out the maximum loan amount and then use the proceeds to invest in a property that requires a $200,000 down payment. The property then generates $2,000 per month in rental income. The 401k would be entitled to $500 of that income each month. The remaining funds would be dispersed to other investors accordingly, even if the person investing is the only investor in the deal. In the latter case, the remaining 75% of rental income each month would flow back to him for use as he pleases.
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Using Your Solo 401k Plan To Invest In Real Estate
If you want to use your 401k account to invest in real estate, you will need to use a solo 401k plan. A solo 401k requires owners of the account to make contributions with their pre-tax dollars. These contributions can continue to grow within the account tax-free until you withdraw them for retirement. Keep in mind that there are limits to how much you can place into a solo 401k plan in a single year. For 2020, the limit is set to $57,000. If youre currently older than 50 but have yet to retire, you can add an extra $6,500 per year above the $57,000 limit.
In order to qualify for this type of plan, you will need to be self-employed without having any employees that require W2 forms. However, its possible for your spouse to work with you. When you have a solo 401k, your investing possibilities will be broadened significantly since this type of account allows investments to be made in any asset thats not disallowed under IRS regulations. The types of assets that you can invest in with a solo 401k plan include:
- Deeds
- Private businesses
- Limited liability companies
- Developed land
How Much Should I Have In My 401 At 50
Most Americans have less in their retirement accounts than theyd like, and much less than the rules say they should have. So, obviously, if that describes you then youre not alone. Now, most financial advisors recommend that you have between five and six times your annual income in a 401 account or other retirement savings account by age 50. With continued growth over the rest of your working career, this amount should generally let you have enough in savings to retire comfortably by age 65.
Consider working with a financial advisor as you flesh out your retirement plan.
What Your Retirement Savings Should Look Like by Age 50
Financial experts sometimes suggest planning for your retirement income to be about 80% of your pre-retirement income. So, for example, someone who earned $100,000 per year going into retirement would plan on having about $80,000 per year while retired. The reason for this discrepancy is that most households tend to have fewer needs and responsibilities while in retirement, and therefore fewer expenses. The only major exception to this rule is when it comes to healthcare. You should expect those costs to rise in your later years.
To make your savings last, financial experts recommend that you plan on withdrawing about 4% per year from your retirement fund. This will depend on three main factors:
-
How much money you have in your retirement fund
-
The average rate of return that your retirement fund generates
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Your anticipated Social Security income
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Vesting Of All Documents
Also,the real estate agent/title company will ask for the 7-page solo 401k Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement lists the name of the trustee.
Now that your self-directed 401k has been successfully invested in real estate, it is important to also understand the ongoing requirements. All ongoing property expenses must be paid from the solo 401k bank or brokerage account. Never pay expenses with personal funds as the solo 401k prohibited transactions disallow it. Make sure the self-directed solo 401k maintains enough liquid cash to cover ongoing property expenses. Just like expenses are paid using solo 401k funds, the rental income and proceeds from the sale of the property must flow directly back to the solo 401k plan.
Other Aspects Of 401s You Should Know
Theres more to know about 401s, though. Regardless of whether they are traditional or Roth, 401s have other essential features that will impact their value to you when compared with other investment options.
- Some employers will match your contributions to your 401 up to certain amounts as an added benefit.
- There are limits on the amount you can contribute annually to your 401.
- Withdrawals from your 401 that you make before you turn 59½ are penalized with an additional 10% tax. The 10% penalty tax is in addition to regular taxes you may owe on the withdrawal.
- Investment options within your 401 will be limited to the offerings of your employers plan.
- You will have to take required minimum distributions at age 72.
Here you can see that the stars of the show are the tax benefits and employer matches and thats why 401s are an integral part of most investors portfolios. However, the tax penalty for early withdrawals and limited investment options are noteworthy considerations, depending on your goals and total financial picture.
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Have Questions About Investing Funds From Your Ira Or 401k Into Our Multifamily Fund Contact Us For The Pros And Cons
If youre reading this, you likely know that there is enormous value for investors in property investing. Real estate, particularly in multifamily and commercial properties, offers some of the highest ROI. But doing so takes a large investment of funds. What many prospective investors dont know is they may have those resources in their IRA and/or 401K. There are ways to use either of these to invest in multifamily and commercial properties.
With the stock market at record highs, many investors are looking to buy an investment property as a way of diversifying their portfolios. But with real estate also at record highs, it has created a dilemma for some investors: should they be saving for and investing in real estate, or should they stay the course and continue maxing out their retirement accounts?
Most people dont realize that it isnt an either-or situation.
In fact, it is possible to use both your 401k and individual retirement accounts to invest in real estate. And contrary to popular belief, it is possible to do so without suffering from steep withdrawal penalties.
There are some key differences between how to invest with either an IRA or 401k, which well cover in this article. This guide is intended to be an investors go-to resource for learning about how to leverage their retirement plans to buy an investment property, including the pros and cons of using this approach and alternative investment strategies to consider.
If You Have An Old 401k Heres What You Can Do
So, your options for investing in real estate are rather limited if you have an active 401k, meaning that you still work for the sponsoring employer.
On the other hand, if you have an old 401k, the possibilities are much greater.
While you canât invest in real estate directly through an employer-sponsored 401k, you can choose to roll a former employerâs 401k account into an individual retirement account, or IRA. And while many IRA custodians donât offer the ability to buy real estate, some offer an account type known as a self-directed IRA.
As the name implies, a self-directed IRA allows you to direct how your funds are invested, within the law. To be sure, there are some things you canât invest in. For example, the law prohibits you from investing in collectibles with IRA funds. However, thereâs nothing that specifically prohibits you from using a self-directed IRA to buy real estate.
- Things youcan buy with a self-directed IRA: Real estate, crowdfunded real estate investments, tax lien certificates, precious metals, cryptocurrencies, private equity investments.
- Things youcanât buy with a self-directed IRA: Collectibles, such as coins, artwork, and antiques.
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Benefits Of Investing In Real Estate Through An Ira
The benefits of investing in real estate through an IRA are similar to the benefits of investing in stocks or mutual funds through an IRA. The tax advantages can help you keep more of your propertys rental income and shelter you from capital gains tax if you sell a property you own.
Consider this simplified example. Lets say you buy an investment property for $200,000, and you generate $1,500 in monthly rental income after expenses. Not only would this rental income be tax-free as long as it remains in the IRA, but no matter how much you sell the property for, you wouldnt have to pay capital gains tax to the IRS.
If your self-directed IRA is of the tax-deferred variety, you wont have to pay a penny of tax until you withdraw money from the account, and if it happens to be a Roth account, your income could be tax-free forever.
A Quick Review Of The 401 Rules
A 401 account is earmarked to save for retirementthats 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 fundsor age 55, if youve 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 .
Still, it is your money, and youve got a right to it. If you want to use the funds to buy a house, you have two options: borrow from your 401 or withdraw the money from your 401.
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Whats Involved In Dipping Into Your 401 To Buy A House
Federal rules allow you to borrow up to $50,000 or half the value of the account, whichever is less, to use the money for a home purchase. You wont owe a 10 percent penalty on the withdrawal if youre under 59.5 years of age. You can repay the money without having to pay taxes.
However, if you lose your job the money will have to be repaid by your next federal tax return or it will be considered a withdrawal and youll be taxed on the sum at your full rate, plus that penalty. In addition, many plans wont let you make new contributions until you repay the loan.
So this loan can be costly in terms of what you wont be saving, as well as possibly forgoing a company match on your contributions.
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What If Youre Self
Self-employed individuals have a few other types of retirement accounts at their disposal, such as SIMPLE IRAs and SEP-IRAs. One that is worth mentioning in the context of buying real estate is a solo 401k.
Specifically, there is such a thing as a self-directed solo 401k plan, mainly offered by the same custodians that offer self-directed IRAs.
In many ways, the procedure and rules for purchasing real estate through a self-directed 401k are the same as with an IRA. Theres one big difference, however. The UBTI tax that can apply to real estate profits on financed properties in an IRA does not apply to solo 401k loans.
The Internal Revenue Service provides a specific exemption for 401ks. To be clear, this can be a big tax benefit, so if you are eligible to use a self-directed 401k and plan to finance your real estate purchases, it can be the better way to go.
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K Real Estate Investment Rules
Jump Ahead To
When considering buying real estate with a retirement account, it is best to know the real estate investment rules that govern the account you want to use for the purchase.
The rules that you have to be aware of when it comes to investing in real estate in your retirement accounts are prohibited transactions, repayment periods, borrowing amounts, and withdrawal penalties.
For instance, according to 401k real estate investment rules, you cannot purchase rental or commercial property.
You can however, use the funds in an employee sponsored 401k, a simple IRA, or a traditional individual retirement account or IRA to purchase your first home.
Additionally, it is possible to invest in a real estate investment trust REIT in your employer sponsored 401k if your company provides that as an option.
If you are interested in purchasing land, farmland, commercial property, or rental property you will either have to use a Solo 401k or a self directed IRA.
With a self directed IRA and a solo 401k, you can invest in and hold these types of properties.
With careful planning, rental properties can be added to your retirement assets to increase the value of your retirement accounts and support you when you are older.
The key is to research custodians who can handle alternative investments and help you set up these accounts.
What Are The Requirements To Buy A Property With An Ira
Most IRAs are set up in a way that allows people to invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and the like. But it is also possible to buy a property with an IRA. The key here is using whats called a self-directed IRA.
Pursuant to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 , the custodian of a self-directed IRA is free to invest however he or she pleases. If your IRA is managed by a third-party, the custodian may not allow you to invest in real estate. But theres no legal reason why you cant. A growing number of financial firms are offering self-directed IRA plans that make it easier to invest in real estate through your IRA.
The rules around buying real estate through your IRA are somewhat complicated. The government wants you to have at least an arms length distance from the investment. As such, if you purchase real estate through an IRA, you cannot live in or actively manage the property. Technically, the title to the property is held by a custodian for the benefit of the IRA . You must also hire a third party to handle all operations. Any revenue generated by the property whether it be rental income or sales proceeds must flow back to the IRA to protect the tax-deferred status of the account.
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