Owning property is amazing, don't get me wrong.

I may be wrong and my CFP's may be right but I am thinking...Is it better to (1) leave the money in 401k and let it keep ballooning and invest in RE with pre-tax money? 

Since I have done both of these things wrong and right in my past, I can tell you keeping the client happy to a certain extent is a lot more cheaperWe have found that setting the proper expectations right up front of what we will and will not do seems to help solve going down this never ending rabbit trail sometimes.

As long as there are no outstanding repairs, I don't see anything wrong with paying off that loan faster. 

There's nothing wrong with renting for a year, getting your shoes on the ground, and learning more about the market. 

I bought the wrong printer first $400 down the drain.  

Sure there is a very small chance that something will go wrong, but with the tightening rental laws spending a little on a proper lease is smart.

They are dead wrong. 

They do everything from framing, trim, painting, roofing, siding, flooring, cabinets, etc. and they can tell you when the plumber or electrician didn't show or did something wrong.

@Jesse Beach I tagged the wrong person instead of you