You can investigate government securities at TreasuryDirect.gov and also check out Certificates of Deposit. Just know that when the Federal Reserve begins to cut interest rates, a strategy that provides safety will not seem as appealing, but I trust you when you say that you do not want any risk.
When near term goals crop up, it is fine to incorporate them into your longer-term plan. So yes, a temporary pause/reduction should be fine, but I recommend that you contribute enough money to capture the company matches, if you are entitled to them. Once you have enough saved for the down payment, you can start cranking again on retirement.
When it comes to financial services, it depends on what you're getting in return for the fee that you are paying. If the firm is providing full-blown, individualized financial planning, it could be worth it, especially as you close in on retirement. But if the firm is only allocating assets and you trust yourself to adhere to a plan and not get too emotional, then feel free to do it yourself and save whatever fee that they are charging.
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