401K and Real Estate Investing: How One Can Help the Other

When people think about their 401K they consider a lump sum of money that has been put away for retirement. In fact most people completely forget about their 401K until income tax time. Creative real estate investors have figured out that 401K and real estate investing have a mutually beneficial relationship. By now you are probably wondering what 401K and real estate investing could possibly have in common. The answer is that the two have several things in common. Each of these should be of interest to you if you are a current real estate investor or you are considering becoming involved with real estate investing.

The easiest way that 401K and real estate investing can work together is through the ability to take out a loan against a 401K. The primary objective with real estate investing is to use little or none of your personal money to fund the investment. Since you are allowed to borrow against your 401K, you can use this to finance part of your investment into real estate. When the deal closes, you will receive back the amount you borrowed plus more. You can easily pay back the loan without affecting your 401K.

There are some things to note about this method of 401K and real estate investing. First, you should know that there is a cap on the amount you can borrow against your 401K. This amount is usually $50,000. However, it can be less, depending on the amount of money you have in your 401K. Another thing to note about 401K and real estate investing is that the real estate you purchase through this means is not eligible for the mortgage-interest tax deduction. There are no tax benefits when you use 401K and real estate investing together.

Another option for using 401K and real estate investing together is to put the money into an IRA, or individual retirement account. Sometimes this is not allowed, but it if is allowed, you have more flexibility on what you can do with the money. You might receive a penalty for moving your money from 401K. The penalty is usually worth it considering the benefits that are made through real estate investing.

If you are weary of the risks involved with 401K and real estate investing there is a safer way to invest in real estate with your 401K. Some plans offer the option to invest in real estate investment trusts. These trusts consist of companies that buy and sell real estate. This is less risk way of using 401K and real estate investing. It also requires less work on the part of the investor since the trust companies are the ones actually doing the real estate investing.

Most people are unaware of the possibilities that exist with 401K and real estate investing. It is a creative way for investors to make a profit in real estate without actually using their own money. The good thing about 401K and real estate investing is that there are both safe and risky ways of investing to yield a profit. The decision you make is one entirely of personal preference.