[pilom]

You can also take your principal (and earnings) out of a traditional IRA penalty free if you work through the loopholes. http://www.madfientist.com/how-to-access-retirement-funds-ea...

[g52oevr0in]

This is info people should be aware of, but it doesn't help me if I only have money in a traditional IRA and want to use $100k for a down payment on a house.

[nfriedly]

Actually, I think buying a (first) house is one of the loopholes. From the linked article:

> "...you can withdraw retirement account money early to pay for education expenses, fund a first-time home purchase, ..."

[g52oevr0in]

Only up to $10k. I can withdraw $10k from my traditional IRA using that loophole, then a lot more from my roth.