401k and roth vs rental props for cash flow

[Devang Patel]

I am a newbie and within the past year have closed on 4 units that are cash flowing very well.  My ultimate goal is to retire at a very early age and live off of the cash flow of my properties.  My unit count goal for properties is in the 15-20 range for now.  I am 30 years old and since i graduated college at 22, I have always attempted to max my 401k and roth ira.  Since i plan on using my rental properties for my early retirement, i am having a tough time understanding why I should be investing in 401k and roth that is not accessible until a later age without penalties.  The additional cash would really help for down payments on new acquisitions.  I would love to hear fellow bloggers' opinions on this matter.