Anyone familiar with this area, which part is best for LTR (cash flow/appreciation), and which areas to stay away from? 

Some markets are saturated with vacation rentals and won't cash flow as well (or at all). 

KC is a great market for cash flow and a lot of out of state investors invest here.

Carryover basis for gifting is one major consideration, but you may also wish to consider what transferring the value of the property now at a relatively lower value would do for her taxable estate and any possible estate tax owed at her death. 

I am also fine with keeping only 4 cash flowing units and not overpay. 

The long-term benefits seem promising, but it's a considerable leap.Delay Action and Save More: Alternatively, I could pause any immediate investment, focusing on boosting my savings for a larger down payment on a more significant property next year.Your experiences, insights, and any advice you can share would be immensely valuable to me.

We'll definitely take that into consideration when planning what we plan to do with the property.

There are several key differences and considerations to keep in mind when investing in a larger building.First and foremost, financing a larger apartment building will likely require a commercial loan, as opposed to a residential mortgage.

For myself, I think my ultimate goal is to have an alternate cash flow to offset my dependence on a day job, which would allow me to choose a job I enjoy rather than have to find a job based on salary and ultimately allow me to travel with family more and enjoy life rather than stress about money.Thanks in advance and hope to connect and gain wisdom!

I have 33 rentals producing enough cash flow to support me the rest of my life, but I enjoy my work and continue working.