re: Taking contributions out of Roth IRA to buy land (updated 5/28/24 - not Roth)

I wasnt suggesting using traditional retirement account. I meant any assets in a taxable brokerage or cash in non retirement accounts.

I'd consider cash before Roth because worst case you can always tap Roth contributions later like you would have the cash but this buys you time to replenish cash without depleting Roth.

Taxable brokerage (not tax deferred retirement account) may be a decent option if you have assets you anticipate using and woukd likely be in 15% LTCG bracket at that point. If you would likely be in zero bracket if you sell later or want to pass to heirs w stepped up basis then not so much.

Roth is typically the last bucket to tap unless used tactically to manage annual tax or benefit eligibility. It is too useful a tool to toss away unless a clear advantage doing so or a crisis.