We were married recently, and when we add in our wedding gifts with what we have been saving on our own for years, we feel that we are finally ready to pull the trigger on our first property purchase.We actually live about 90 minutes south of the ski area that we are looking to invest in, but it is an area that I am very familiar with as I have been going there my whole life.

The 1031 exchange is a gift from the IRS to allow investors to build wealth using the tax deferral.

@Matthew SamsonHave they considered gifting? 

If you are not planning on living there too, you would only be able to offer a gift to that person and you would likely not qualify as an eligible gift donor unless you are closely blood related. 

When its family and you have time to pay it back or its gifted its okay.

The plan is for them to save a little bit more and wait for the sale of their parents house to get a gift for the down payment.

They are a local Louisville, KY homemade kitchen that makes Bourban balls and they are great Christmas gifts.

1) you can’t afford to “gift” these strangers $4,000 year. 2) if rent caps kick in you wil be giving them $4,000/year for life.

Could they "gift" it to me? 

I've heard in some states it's illegal to give referrals to realtors that are monetary, including gift cards.