Would love to hear form some Multi-Family owners/operators in these markets about pros/cons and specifically neighborhoods to avoid.My wife and I have been to Columbia SC many times and, while we have never been to Little Rock Arkansas, we plan on going in Late March! 

You can find online which larger institutions are buying in a specific area and try and reach out to them.

However, the suitability of buying and renting out a single-family home in Richmond can depend on various factors, such as market trends, rental demand, and property values (similar case with all markets, really.)Chatting with a local agent in the area can provide very helpful insights into the market, data, and specific neighborhoods.

I am not too certain on which specific strategies I would like to learn more about.

Responses like this are good for me because I am pretty uneducated on things like specific loans or qualifying requirements.

Scaling-  your question is both country and even town specific.  

May I ask why you are specifically looking for smaller deals? 

Networking, local meetups, door knocking, mailers, wholesalers, online forums specific to your area of interest.  

You should consult an attorney or CPA for your specific situation.ANONYMITY: When you create the LLC, your name is recorded on the documents and published on the Secretary of State's website for all to see.

Let me know if you have specific questions and good luck in your search.