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Ja'Shonte W.
  • Investor
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House hack strategy

Ja'Shonte W.
  • Investor
Posted

Asking a random question. Has anyone ever borrowed a portion of their 401k plan through employer, to acquire an income producing property for a house hack? Is it a smart decision or bad one? 

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Diana Khan#5 All Forums Contributor
  • Attorney
  • 10451 Mill Run Cir #755 Owings Mills, MD 21117
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Diana Khan#5 All Forums Contributor
  • Attorney
  • 10451 Mill Run Cir #755 Owings Mills, MD 21117
Replied

@Ja'Shonte W., I’ve seen investors use retirement funds as part of a real estate plan, but I would be very careful about using a 401(k) loan just because it makes the down payment possible. I would want the house hack to work even if one unit sits vacant, a repair comes up, or the rent is lower than expected. The 401(k) payment is still there either way.

I would also check the repayment rules with your plan before moving forward, especially what happens if you leave your job while the loan is still open. If the property works with conservative numbers and you still have cash left for repairs and emergencies, then it may be worth looking at more closely. If using the 401(k) leaves you with very little room for surprises, I would probably slow down. I like that you’re thinking through the financing before jumping into the property.

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