Second, research all you can to figure out which investments would benefit you the most in achieving your goals concerning RE.

I have successfully used the str loophole and can provide some insight how I achieved it. 

🌟 AMA: How We Achieved a 4098% IRR in Just 58 Days!

I’m looking for some guidance on my next steps toward achieving financial freedom through real estate.My long-term goal is to acquire enough rental properties to secure my financial future.

If you do decide to proceed into investing, this will open to a realm of achieving financial freedom and slowly accumulate your rental portfolio, so that you can replace your active tech income from your rental income.

I think the bottom line is there are many ways to achieve success in RE. 

That being said I see clients achieving 2x monthly cashflow returns on investments even with 7% mortgages.

Remember, C/D located properties generally appraise once improved for significantly more than they will actually sell in an arms length transaction so you can go to many C/D neighborhoods, successfully complete the BRRRR method but deal with  all of the operational difficulties of the asset class and then fail to achieve a sale figure remotely close to the favorable appraisal  that allowed for the proceeds to be returned through the refinance. 

Given that properties in your target area are around $250,000, a 20% down payment for two properties would indeed be achievable with your cash-out funds.Market ConsiderationsCentral Texas Market:The Central Texas market is strong, especially for single-family rentals (SFR).

There's plenty of multi inventory to explore those avenues in and out of the city so I'm sure you'll achieve this goal in no time.