If the numbers don't seem to make sense, consider a cheaper (but still growing market) or just keep saving until you can do out-of-state investing. 

I am on a real estate journey to grow and obtain a potent Real Estate Portfolio.

She's a beast and you'll likely get approved which will give you a revolving source of funds to keep growing Griffin what terms are you seeing on products like this? 

I’ve done both to grow from 2 paid off STR and now have 29 SFR by using equity that was sitting there doing absolutely nothing for me to buy more and more with 20% down.

Excited to learn and grow together.

I feel like in today’s day in age there are so many tools for STR operations and I cannot believe there is no integration for a merchant of sale transaction or some kind of financial app/ software that can take the remitted taxes and pay them to the government automatically.

You get a deduction for the contribution, the gains grow tax-free and as long as you use the proceeds for health-related expenses the funds come out tax free as well. 

I think a stronger economy will lead to more demand and higher values in growing areas.

Also, What do you consider growing to a moderate size?

Highly recommend you looking into a checkbook IRA instead of cashing out.Sure you can take out the principle since you’ve already paid taxes on it but this money is supposed to be for your retirement and in a Roth your real estate can grow tax free, though check with a CPA to see if STR will trigger UBIT in an IRA.