To transition to multi-family properties, research landlord-friendly states like Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and Indiana with favorable eviction laws, lower taxes, and higher rental demand.

Kind of like asking if people like cars pro/con; then finding out later you're a car salesperson; versus Truck/Motorcyle/Mass transit.Read back through my comment and yours, we said the same thing. 

How do I access a portion of that equity to fund the purchase of 1-2 more MFR properties in more affordable markets like OH, IN, MI, PA, TN, or AL?

Like I said, I am very excited to get started, but it is slightly overwhelming!

Sounds like you found a profitable niche 

Then you can read a more in-depth book like The Book On Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner or The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing by Spencer Strauss.2.

I would like to keep learning more and hear from others about their experience around the Kansas city area.

STR feels more like a strategy to break even or eek out a meager return on a great asset than a strategy to cashflow.

Some private lenders like the one I work with doesn't require appraisals on fix and flip/new construction loans and also doesn't require tax returns/W2s.

At those price points I'm assuming this is a more cash flow area like the rust belt, or other mid west geography.