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Pay-Off My Mortgage Using a Distribution From My 401(k)
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009
Question: I have $225,000 in a 401(k) to be distributed to me in five equal annual installments every January. I already received one installment of $43,000. I have a mortgage of $160,000 I would like to pay off with the 401(k) distributions. I don't want to pay the penalty of 10%. What is the best way to accomplish this? I am unemployed and don't think I will find substantial work in the foreseeable future.
Answer: Before I get to your question, let me point out a resource I want you to read, and let me make two observations.The IRS offers the document "401(k) Resource Guide - Plan Participants - General Distribution Rules " You do not mention your age in your question. If you are less than 59½ years old, you will be charged a 10% tax for receiving an early distribution unless you can show that your reason for asking for the distribution is a "hardship." See the link above for an explanation of the hardship rules. If you are age 59½ or older, and your plan allows distributions, then you may receive a distribution without the 10% tax. You will, however, need to declare the distribution on your federal and state income tax returns as income.
Here are my observations: First, you may not want to apply 100% of your 401(k) distributions to the mortgage. You may want to continue to make the usual payments at the usual time and invest the remainder. If you can earn a greater
return on your money than the interest rate you are paying for the mortgage, then it is a wiser use of your money to not retire the mortgage. One additional factor to consider is the interest deduction you get with your income taxes.
My second observation is in the form of a rhetorical question: Do you need the 401(k) distribution for daily living expenses, such as food, transportation, health care, household maintenance, and so on? Keep that in mind before you retire your mortgage early.
Early mortgage pay-off
Based on the figures provided in the question, you should be able to pay off the mortgage once you receive the fourth 401(k) distribution.
Contact your lender to discuss your desire to pay off the mortgage, and find out if the lender will expect you to continue making regular monthly mortgage payments in addition to the large payments you will be making every few months. The lender may be willing to waive
My second observation is in the form of a rhetorical question: Do you need the 401(k) distribution for daily living expenses, such as food, transportation, health care, household maintenance, and so on? Keep that in mind before you retire your mortgage early.
Early mortgage pay-off
Based on the figures provided in the question, you should be able to pay off the mortgage once you receive the fourth 401(k) distribution.
Contact your lender to discuss your desire to pay off the mortgage, and find out if the lender will expect you to continue making regular monthly mortgage payments in addition to the large payments you will be making every few months. The lender may be willing to waive
your regular payment obligations, in which case you should request written confirmation that the lender will not report derogatory information on your credit reports as long as you make the four large payments out of your 401(k) distributions.
If the lender you need to continue making your mortgage payments each month to prevent delinquency or default, you need to hold back enough of each of your 401(k) distributions to allow you to make your mortgage payments for months between each distribution.
The interest on your loan will not stop in the months between your large payments, so you should try to pay the balance off as soon as possible. You should also make sure that all required payments are made on time, unless waived by the lender, to prevent derogatory credit reporting.
I wish you the best of luck for the future, and hope that the information I have provided helps you Find. Learn. Save.
Best,
Bill
www.bills.com
If the lender you need to continue making your mortgage payments each month to prevent delinquency or default, you need to hold back enough of each of your 401(k) distributions to allow you to make your mortgage payments for months between each distribution.
The interest on your loan will not stop in the months between your large payments, so you should try to pay the balance off as soon as possible. You should also make sure that all required payments are made on time, unless waived by the lender, to prevent derogatory credit reporting.
I wish you the best of luck for the future, and hope that the information I have provided helps you Find. Learn. Save.
Best,
Bill
www.bills.com
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1. Posted by Annie on Wednesday 25th November 2009 18:16
My mortgage is nearly paid off, with only a $57,000 balance remaining. I want to pay off the balance in full, now. The bank is not cooperating with my request, and my visits and calls have not been able to get through to anyone that can give me an exact amount for full pay-off. Will they fine me if I just make a mortgage payment of $57,000 to get it over with? If I round up the payment to $65,000 to cover any penalties they might impose, will they refund any over-payment? I've been compulsively hoarding money for a lifetime, so paying off the mortgage balance will not make a significant dent in my savings and it will have no effect on my retirement accounts or other investments. I'm not pleased with my mortgage lender's service, and I just want to know the proper procedure for paying off the balance in full. Thanks, Annie
2. Posted by Bill on Wednesday 25th November 2009 19:31
Pay the balance of $57,000 and not a penny more. I would be very surprised if there was an early-payment penalty. If that was the case you would be penalized for selling the property (and thus retiring the debt before its term) or refinancing the mortgage.