401k to purchase investment homes

[Yengkong Sayaovong]

Have anyone used their 401k to purchase homes? Recommended or no? After so many years my job finally offer 401k. I was thinking of contributing to it as a savings to buy investment homes. The investment itself is not really worth it for me right now as I'm not even going to be getting more then how much I make in 1 1/2 years at retirement base on their calculations. My only hope left is really in real estate. Only concern I have is the penalty fees if I withdraw early.