there is tremendous demand for inventory by both investors and retail buyers which is making it tough for the casual investor to succeed.it's great that you're thinking about getting your financing in order. 

For the areas of interest (you are local so I'll say suburbs west of City Line Avenue) there are few and far between -and- have many investors sitting on large sums of cash to jump on anything that comes up (where I would be navigating a reverse 1031.) 

That said, I highly recommend speaking with a local professional in the DFW area to get insights tailored to your specific goals.

Just be sure to check local regulations because some spots are cracking down on STRs.

I'm looking at small multifamiles and won't have an issue with capital thankfully.I am in Arkansas and looking to stay local-ish initially.

Aloha Sino, id recommend a lender in your local area of Texas.

You will need their advice on your state & local laws to properly proceed.

Otherwise, selling and using the proceeds to scale your portfolio locally could accelerate your long-term goals.

Start networking with local agents and investors for insights, and talk to a lender to get pre-approved to understand your budget.

You have some good comments above but I would also suggest to try some local real estate meetup groups.