Duh. Thanks, Grant. Too much multi-tasking this morning. Trying to clear off the decks before a much-needed vacation.
So in response to aresonthecusp: first and foremost, congratulations on amassing such a tidy sum so early on! If you have that much this soon, what would happen if you kept on with what you're doing for just a little while longer? Your margins seem just a little close for comfort right now, when you consider the long term effects of inflation. It seems it would take less effort to amass a chunk more now for the security it would provide for the rest of your life.
Don't get me wrong, if I had what you have at your age, I'd be clearing off my desk permanently today. I'd buy a foreclosed house somewhere really inexpensive for 50-75k and spend my newfound free time fixing it up to rent. And then I'd do it again, rinse, and repeat.
I think both of your choices have merit, but I am firmly in the long mortgage with low fixed rate interest camp. You have more control if you own (even partially, no especially partially) your own home. You also have the power of leverage, plus tax advantages. Based on what you've achieved thus far, whatever you decide will be a good enough decision. It doesn't have to be perfect. Here's a favorite quote: "Retiring too early is a mistake you can recover from. Too late and there is no recovery."