401 ks are tax heavy on the back end when you take the money out. In your program you'd pay off your home and take your 401k while your in a higher tax bracket because you have no mortgage deduction. For some people they pay more in 3-4 years taking the money in retirement than they deferred in 30 years of 401k investing.
RE provides more leverage for the long haul, which of course retirement investment is typically.
I don't know which of the questions I didn't answer. I don't sell insurance and we're well off, but not filthy rich? I just started this at age 50. Had I stared when I could have, say age 27, I might have much more money, but I used the tax deferred plan at work like all of the other lemmings and never shopped around or learned anything else.
That answer is good enough.
Sounds like you have a plan and good for you.