{"id":98629,"date":"2025-08-25T09:14:39","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T16:14:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=98629"},"modified":"2025-10-15T09:38:30","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T16:38:30","slug":"can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I Use My 401(k) to Buy a House? Yes, Here\u2019s How"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re struggling to save enough for a downpayment, you may be wondering if tapping into your 401(k) is the right option. While it\u2019s possible, doing so comes with significant risks, like early withdrawal penalties and lost investment growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this Redfin article, we\u2019ll answer your questions about using your 401(k) to buy a home through loans or withdrawals and the drawbacks of the process. That way, whether you&#8217;re buying a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/18142\/FL\/Tampa\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">home in Tampa, FL<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/13136\/NJ\/Newark\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Newark, NJ<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you\u2019ll know what options are available if you want to use your 401(k).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can use your 401(k) to buy a home with a 401(k) loan or withdrawal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A 401(k) loan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> allows you to borrow the money without penalty, but you need to repay it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A 401(k) withdrawal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is subject to a 10% penalty and income tax.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can I use my 401(k) to buy a house?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The short answer is yes, you can use your 401(k) to buy a house. There are two options to consider &#8211; 401(k) loans and 401(k) withdrawals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">401(k) loans to buy a house<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first option is a 401(k) loan for your home purchase. A 401(k) loan allows you to borrow from yourself, so you don\u2019t have to pay penalties or taxes on the funds. However, you\u2019ll need to pay back the loan with interest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most 401(k) loan interest rates and repayment plans are pre-determined by your employer or 401(k) provider. It\u2019s common to repay the amount within five years, but some plans allow you to repay over 15 years if the funds are used to buy a home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can usually borrow up to half of the money in your 401(k) that you fully own (your \u201cvested balance\u201d), but no more than $50,000.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on your 401(k) plan, you may not be able to make additional contributions until you pay back the loan. Any loan repayments are not considered new contributions either.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">401(k) withdrawals to buy a house<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Withdrawing from your 401(k) can be riskier, but there are reasons why it may work for you. Some 401(k) providers don\u2019t allow loans, so withdrawing may be the only option available. Additionally, if you need more than $50,000, withdrawing can give you more funds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are other drawbacks to keep in mind:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>If you\u2019re under 59 \u00bd years old<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you\u2019ll incur a 10% penalty for withdrawing from your 401(k), unless you meet certain exemption requirements. You\u2019ll also need to pay income tax on any money withdrawn from your account, even if you meet the exemption requirements.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>If you have a Roth 401(k)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, your contributions are made after taxes, so you can usually withdraw contributions without additional taxes. However, withdrawing earnings before age 59\u00bd (and before the account has been open for at least five years) may trigger taxes and penalties.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When can you withdraw from your 401(k) without penalty?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/retirement-plans\/plan-participant-employee\/retirement-topics-hardship-distributions\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hardship withdrawal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> allows you to withdraw from your 401(k) without penalty, but is restricted to \u201cimmediate and heavy financial need.\u201d Here are some examples of what circumstances may qualify:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certain medical expenses or medical debt<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expenses to prevent eviction or foreclosure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Income after the withdrawal age of 59 \u00bd<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Funeral expenses for certain family members<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12 months of educational expenses, like tuition<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are additional circumstances that may qualify as a hardship withdrawal, so be sure to research your options. For example, you may qualify for a hardship withdrawal to cover your down payment or closing costs. However, these rules can be strict and you may still need to pay the 10% penalty on the funds you withdraw.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to borrow from your 401(k) account to buy a house<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To borrow from your 401(k) loan to finance a down payment, you\u2019ll need to talk to your employer\u2019s benefits office or HR department, or with your 401(k) plan provider. You can also consult your plan document to find out if your plan permits borrowing from your 401(k) to purchase a home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll want to find out how much you\u2019re able to borrow, the interest you\u2019ll have to pay, and the repayment period. Additionally, ask about repayment options, such as whether your employer will deduct the monthly payment from your paycheck or if they will allow you to make 401(k) contributions while you pay back the loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you choose to leave or lose your job during the repayment period, your repayment schedule will change. Most times, you\u2019ll need to repay the total amount by the next tax deadline. If you don\u2019t, you\u2019ll face a 10% penalty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros and cons of buying a home with 401(k)<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some factors to consider before using your 401(k) to buy a home:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros of using 401(k) funds<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Easier qualification process: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With most loan approvals, they\u2019ll examine your finances and run a credit check. Typically, applying for a 401(k) loan doesn\u2019t need that information since the money is already yours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Receive funds faster:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You\u2019ll usually get the funds within a few days since the approval process is much faster.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>You receive the interest payments: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike a mortgage loan, your interest payments don\u2019t go to the lender. Any interest payments go back into your 401(k) as part of the repayment process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>401(k) loans don\u2019t count towards your debt-to-income ratio: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/guides\/buy\/calculate-debt-to-income-ratio\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">debt-to-income ratio<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (DTI) is typically used when you apply for a new line of credit or loan. A 401(k) loan won\u2019t impact your DTI, meaning you could apply for a new credit card or get a car loan if needed<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cons of using 401(k) funds<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Reduced retirement savings:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> When you withdraw or take out a loan, you\u2019ll lose some of your retirement savings. While you\u2019ll eventually pay them back, this temporary reduction in savings may lead to long-term losses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Taxes and additional penalties:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you choose to withdraw 401(k) funds, you\u2019ll have to pay income taxes on the funds. You\u2019ll also have to pay a 10% penalty for withdrawing those funds early.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Lost investment growth and contributions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Some 401(k) accounts won\u2019t let you contribute to the account while you repay your loan. You may lose out on the interest your funds build as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Additional monthly payments:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> While you repay your loans, you&#8217;ll have to factor that into your monthly payments. In some cases, repayments are made with after-tax dollars and may be taken directly from your paycheck, which could cause additional financial strain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is using a 401(k) to buy a home a good idea?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using a 401(k) to buy a home can work in certain situations, but it comes with risks. It may make sense if:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You have no other savings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You qualify for a 401(k) loan with reasonable repayment terms<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You plan to stay in the home long-term<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alternatives to using your 401(k) to buy a house<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several alternatives to using your 401(k) to buy a home. Let\u2019s take a look at them:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Individual retirement accounts (IRAs)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) have options available for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/guides\/first-time-home-buyer-guide\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">first-time homebuyers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and those who have not owned a primary residence for two years. This gives you the opportunity to withdraw up to $10,000 for traditional or Roth IRAs with no penalty, even if you\u2019re under 59 \u00bd years of age. Consider speaking with your financial advisor if you have questions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low and no-downpayment mortgages<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are plenty of low and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-to-buy-a-house-with-no-money-down\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">no-downpayment mortgages<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> available for qualified homebuyers, like FHA, USDA, and VA loans. For example, FHA loans, backed by the Federal Housing Authority, offer loans with down payments as low as 3.5%. These loans have more stringent requirements, so it may not be the right option for everyone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Down payment assistance programs<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re a first-time homebuyer or a repeat buyer, there are plenty of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/down-payment-assistance-programs\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">down payment assistance programs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> available. Most are geared toward first-time buyers, but there are lots of options that reduce the amount you pay in down payment or closing costs. Your state may also offer a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/first-time-home-buyer-savings-account\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\">first-time homebuyer savings account<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQs about using your 401(k) to buy a house<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a 401(k)?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/retirement-plans\/401k-plans\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">401(k)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a type of retirement savings account, where you elect a certain portion of your income to go into the account. There are two types of 401(k) accounts, a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k). Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, so you\u2019ll be taxed once taking them out. On the other hand, a Roth 401(k) has taxes taken out before contributing, so you won\u2019t have to pay tax on them later.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will my employer know if I withdraw from my 401(k)?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your employer, most likely the human resources department, will know if you withdraw from your 401(k), but not your direct manager.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How does withdrawing from a 401(k) affect mortgage approval?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using a 401(k) loan or withdrawal can impact your mortgage application in different ways. While a 401(k) loan won\u2019t count against your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, a withdrawal could reduce your available assets and affect your lender\u2019s view of your financial stability. Always check with your lender before using 401(k) funds for a home purchase.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can I use a 401(k) loan and withdrawal at the same time to buy a house?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, you can\u2019t combine a 401(k) loan and withdrawal at the same time. Most plans only allow one type of 401(k) distribution at a time, but this depends on your employer\u2019s plan rules.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is there a 401(k) first-time homebuyer exemption?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are no exemptions for first-time homebuyers looking to use their 401(k) to fund their home purchase.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can I use my 401(k) to buy a second home?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, you can use your 401(k) to buy a second property. You\u2019ll still face the same penalties and repayment regardless of whether you have a loan or withdraw funds.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can I use my 401(k) to cover closing costs?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, you can use a 401(k) loan or withdrawal to cover closing costs, including lender fees, appraisal costs, and escrow expenses. Withdrawals still come with penalties and taxes, while loans must be repaid.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You can use your 401(k) to buy a house, but there are drawbacks. Learn about 401(k) loans and withdrawals to decide which option is best for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":537,"featured_media":85836,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[34276],"tags":[34529,34629,34617],"coauthors":[33440],"class_list":["post-98629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buying-a-home","tag-buying-faq","tag-first-time-homebuyer","tag-home-buying-process"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.7 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Can I Use My 401(k) to Buy a House? | Redfin<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You can use your 401(k) to buy a house, but there are drawbacks. Learn about 401(k) loans and withdrawals to decide which option is best for you.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can I Use My 401(k) to Buy a House? Yes, Here\u2019s How\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You can use your 401(k) to buy a house, but there are drawbacks. Learn about 401(k) loans and withdrawals to decide which option is best for you.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling &amp; More\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/redfin\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-25T16:14:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-15T16:38:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Black-Diamond-WA-31060-222nd-Way-SE.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"670\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Alison Bentley\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@redfin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@redfin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Alison Bentley\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Alison Bentley\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/de53ec0145e2448ed553d0dbfa6b3574\"},\"headline\":\"Can I Use My 401(k) to Buy a House? Yes, Here\u2019s How\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-25T16:14:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-15T16:38:30+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1685,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/Black-Diamond-WA-31060-222nd-Way-SE.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"buying faq\",\"first time homebuyer\",\"home buying process\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Buying a Home\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"copyrightYear\":\"2025\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\\\/\",\"name\":\"Can I Use My 401(k) to Buy a House? | Redfin\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/Black-Diamond-WA-31060-222nd-Way-SE.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-25T16:14:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-15T16:38:30+00:00\",\"description\":\"You can use your 401(k) to buy a house, but there are drawbacks. Learn about 401(k) loans and withdrawals to decide which option is best for you.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/Black-Diamond-WA-31060-222nd-Way-SE.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/Black-Diamond-WA-31060-222nd-Way-SE.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":670,\"caption\":\"how to buy a home two stroy in washington\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Can I Use My 401(k) to Buy a House? Yes, Here\u2019s How\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling &amp; More\",\"description\":\"Real estate on Wall Street, Main Street and your street.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Redfin\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/03\\\/Redfin-logo-512x512-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/03\\\/Redfin-logo-512x512-1.jpg\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Redfin\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/redfin\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/redfin\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/redfinrealestate\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/redfin\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/redfin\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCMIuo1QSGcmWnevT9jdC_Ow\",\"https:\\\/\\\/en.wikipedia.org\\\/wiki\\\/Redfin\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/de53ec0145e2448ed553d0dbfa6b3574\",\"name\":\"Alison Bentley\",\"description\":\"Alison is part of the Content Marketing team as a Marketing Program Manager. In her 5 years at Redfin, Alison has written a variety of articles ranging from home design tips to housing affordability, and specializes in first-time homebuyer and seller resources. A California-native, Alison currently resides in Seattle where you can find her catching a concert or exploring farmers\u2019 markets. Her dream home is a cottage-style house with a chef\u2019s kitchen and a cozy room to store and play vinyl records.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.redfin.com/blog\\\/author\\\/alison-bentley\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Can I Use My 401(k) to Buy a House? | Redfin","description":"You can use your 401(k) to buy a house, but there are drawbacks. Learn about 401(k) loans and withdrawals to decide which option is best for you.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Can I Use My 401(k) to Buy a House? Yes, Here\u2019s How","og_description":"You can use your 401(k) to buy a house, but there are drawbacks. Learn about 401(k) loans and withdrawals to decide which option is best for you.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/","og_site_name":"Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling &amp; More","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/redfin","article_published_time":"2025-08-25T16:14:39+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-15T16:38:30+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":670,"url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Black-Diamond-WA-31060-222nd-Way-SE.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Alison Bentley","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@redfin","twitter_site":"@redfin","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Alison Bentley","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/"},"author":{"name":"Alison Bentley","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/de53ec0145e2448ed553d0dbfa6b3574"},"headline":"Can I Use My 401(k) to Buy a House? Yes, Here\u2019s How","datePublished":"2025-08-25T16:14:39+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-15T16:38:30+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/"},"wordCount":1685,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Black-Diamond-WA-31060-222nd-Way-SE.jpg","keywords":["buying faq","first time homebuyer","home buying process"],"articleSection":["Buying a Home"],"inLanguage":"en-US","copyrightYear":"2025","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/","name":"Can I Use My 401(k) to Buy a House? | Redfin","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Black-Diamond-WA-31060-222nd-Way-SE.jpg","datePublished":"2025-08-25T16:14:39+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-15T16:38:30+00:00","description":"You can use your 401(k) to buy a house, but there are drawbacks. Learn about 401(k) loans and withdrawals to decide which option is best for you.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Black-Diamond-WA-31060-222nd-Way-SE.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Black-Diamond-WA-31060-222nd-Way-SE.jpg","width":1200,"height":670,"caption":"how to buy a home two stroy in washington"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/can-i-use-my-401k-to-buy-a-house\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Can I Use My 401(k) to Buy a House? Yes, Here\u2019s How"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/","name":"Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling &amp; More","description":"Real estate on Wall Street, Main Street and your street.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Redfin","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Redfin-logo-512x512-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Redfin-logo-512x512-1.jpg","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Redfin"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/redfin","https:\/\/x.com\/redfin","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/redfinrealestate\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/redfin","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/redfin\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCMIuo1QSGcmWnevT9jdC_Ow","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Redfin"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/de53ec0145e2448ed553d0dbfa6b3574","name":"Alison Bentley","description":"Alison is part of the Content Marketing team as a Marketing Program Manager. In her 5 years at Redfin, Alison has written a variety of articles ranging from home design tips to housing affordability, and specializes in first-time homebuyer and seller resources. A California-native, Alison currently resides in Seattle where you can find her catching a concert or exploring farmers\u2019 markets. Her dream home is a cottage-style house with a chef\u2019s kitchen and a cozy room to store and play vinyl records.","url":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/author\/alison-bentley\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/537"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98629"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98629\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107326,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98629\/revisions\/107326"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/85836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98629"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=98629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}