This would directly benefit me and my wife, but it would also help young couples who want to start a family.
Why trap their money to be fully taxed on withdrawal at age 60 or so when they really need it when young to buy their first house?
Buying a house is also a kind of retirement savings.
Make it limited to direct payment on principal of a house, and make it so that selling that house would require that they put the principal in another house, or back in the 401(k)/IRA.
I'd speculate that many younger home buyers get some help with the downpayments from families, especially on a first home. Maybe just enough help to get into one. For those that do not, this proposal just might be the difference between owning a home or not. It's supposed to be a tax and penalty free withdrawl as opposed to being a loan as is available today so no post-tax repayments taken out of their wages either. Overall, I think that's a good thing for those intent on buying one after having considered all other pros and cons.
Why trap their money to be fully taxed on withdrawal at age 60 or so when they really need it when young to buy their first house?
Buying a house is also a kind of retirement savings.
Make it limited to direct payment on principal of a house, and make it so that selling that house would require that they put the principal in another house, or back in the 401(k)/IRA.