Real Estate Vs. 401k

[Steve Willert]

Hi everyone! I have been learning about real estate a lot lately and how important it is as an investment vehicle. I am planning on buying a duplex as my first house but with the difficult market right now, everything available is expensive and a little out of reach. I am close but not quite there. I do have a 401k from an employer I worked at for 6 years that has grown to a decent amount of cash that could definitely help with some of the overall closing costs. 

My question is, if I plan on buying a duplex, keeping it and renting it out (while living in it at first), do we think it would be worth taking the loss on the early withdrawl if it helps me get a cash generating asset (assuming the numbers all work out). I understand 401ks are great to let grow, but I am 30, I don't want to wait until I am 65 to cash out when I am thinking it could really help jumpstart my real estate portfolio.

Thoughts, feedback, criticism welcome. 

Cheers