I can say I'm biased because I'm located here, but the numbers work and it meets all your conditions.

My budget will be around $200k but I’m meeting with a lender on Tuesday to go over all of my options.

I have integrated a couple of other platforms and had to do the exact same steps when it came to being able to receive payments online.

My favorite way to find a mentor was to look on Zillow for houses for rent in your area and then click on the ones that are 'for rent by owner' then call them and introduce yourself as an investor in the area who is looking to meet new investors. 

I know the founder and know that they've set out to build a platform that takes the best features of sites like Furnished Finder and Airbnb and leaves out the clunkiness and annoying policies and practices.

Meeting a 20% down payment to avoid PMI seems manageable, although would take a big chunk of my liquid net worth, and I prefer this route over using an FHA loan.

Looking for something with low acquisition cost, and meets or exceeds the 1% rule.  

Yes, Kansas City has tenant-friendly laws, including:Stricter eviction processesLandlords required to meet certain habitability standardsMore tenant protections against retaliationIf you’re unfamiliar with local laws, a PM can help navigate compliance and avoid costly mistakes.Final Thought:If you prefer a hands-off investment, a good PM is worth the cost—just vet them carefully.

Last week,my sister was at a meeting with the Mayor of the town these two men live in and he knows both and said he could get them served.

I would try to reach out to other investors in the area through REIA meetings.