how bad can it get and what am i missing

[Mike R.]

what am i missing?

i'm a planner and admittedly sometime too much planning too far into the future.  So here is my plan, withdraw as much $ from the 401k as needed (pay the penalty and taxes) to pay off the MF rentals that we currently own.  in my simple mind, the worst case is that the global economy collapses (assume worse than '08) so it might be hard to maintain rents at current levels but with no mortgage to cover, the break-even rent has to be fairly low (i.e. the rent needed to cover ALL monthly expenses) and its unlikely we couldn't find someone to rent it at the break-even if needed.  Assuming the last point is true (is that a fair assumption?), i don't see how i could lose the buildings/starve/be on the streets, right??????   

[Justin R.]

Mike R. Yes. But, why? If you left your money in the 401k you could tap it when you're starving on the street. Or, cashed in your 401k and put all those $100 bills under your mattress for when you're starving.

What are you trying to accomplish?