It's a small amount (less than $30K).  

The cheapest is around $25/month significantly cutting into your monthly yield on such a small note.

I have the opportunity to put a small portfolio of 7 units (a fourplex and 3 houses) under contract in a small town (Red Oak, IA) which is about 45 minutes outside of Omaha.

I'm looking at properties trying to see if there is a good deal to be found but it seems sellers of small multi families are living in a dreamworld when it comes to prices.

A couple small pieces of advice when selecting contractors I would offer which is used in the commercial world is to always make sure you have (3) bids per job and level their scopes of work to make sure they are ‘apples to apples’.

My experience in Real Estate is from helping my uncle paint and do some small rehabs on his rental properties. but nothing major.

Is it possible to prepare the docs and close a small land deal ($4K) in SC without an attorney?

I don't have any earth shattering secrets you can't find in books, but I can share actual experiences, timelines, prices, rehab costs, insurance costs, rental roles, property management and tips for how I've created a 19 unit portfolio worth almost $1M and generating over $100k annually inside my IRA, starting from a relatively small initial investment.  

I am not an agent but I am a small business owner who needs additional revenue streams to meet my future financial goals.

Gutted and remodeled a camper and moved my small family of 4 there permanently a few months ago.