This is my first partnership multifamily deal after purchasing and renting my own properties, and I'm a bit lost on this topic.My goal is to have equity ownership, take advantage of depreciation, and hold the property in the LLC long term, while collecting distributions and paying applicable taxes on those distributions.My intention was to assign % ownership when the entity value was $0, like can be done when founding a company prior to incorporation.

The LLC is incorporated in NC, but the property is located in South Carolina.

I'm also gathering that there aren't really any tax benefits with me using the LLC vs. personal financial reporting either.Is my only benefit to the LLC the ability to make polo shirts with cool logos?? 

My question - can I issue a 1099 NEC/MISC to my realtor as a sole proprietor (using my name as Company name ) or do I need to incorporate/form an LLC first?

I am the owner of a small business (LLC- soon to incorporate S-Corp, possibly) and our eldest is heading to college.

Or I could possibly ask the buyer if I could incorporate them in the sale price.Any advice?

One item we would like to incorporate on this document is some information that demonstrates/shows the purchasing power of landlords. 

My response is that I would want a lease for the term of the solar panel lease which will incorporate the cost of the panels and regular increases every years.

What they need is an "investor" (often times parent(s)) to help them qualify.When I was working in corporate America I was in the same situation as you.

Go to the local county auditor's website to get the owners name (if LLC search the incorporator on opencorporates.com) then use a website such as fastpeoplesearch.com and find the owners then start calling!