A good starting point would be a 10% 2nd home loan or an owner occupied 5% loan where you can convert a basement or studio into a simple 1 bedroom unit and basically let your guests pay your mortgage. 

Simple enough, right?

Closing fees won't be any different if they are 4 seperate fee simple properties.

I want a successful, long-term operator. 

If there are any known issues(even as simple as a bad $7 shutoff valve) you will not be permitted to turn on utilities. 

You can usually find some events by doing a simple google search.

I think the problem here is your lumping ALL syndicators, regardless of operational time and quality, into 1 big generalization. 

I plan to self-manage these properties and intend to operate my portfolio as a business, tracking all income and expenses while avoiding the commingling of personal and business funds.

We call RE operators "investors" fancier title, sounds better, implies more wealth, it's guru originated, the IRS will call you an operator and that carries just as much clout with me as "investor".

Should we set up a simple LLC in Ohio?