If not, should I sell stock that I have that has capital gains that would be due on it and offset that?

typically with seller finance there would be some period of monthly payments and then a balloon where you pay off the balance in full. 

The IRS generally does not allow you to deduct expenses for a property that has not been placed into service, as deductions typically apply to operational properties actively being used to produce income.

This allows new investors to gain experience while minimizing risk and maximizing returns right from the start. 

Figure out the state and federal capital gains tax and depreciation recapture after selling costs.

Rates can be very similar to those of conventional financing (Fannie/Freddie - full doc loans that you will need to prove income to get), but typically a little higher than conventional financing. 2nd - Networking and partnerships! 

No reason to spend $1000-$1200 on a typical 1031 QIMathew 

The higher credit, higher income, gainfully employed S8 tenants are choosy about where they live and do not want to live in a bad, high crime area.By buying in an area that appeals to high quality S8 tenants, the arbitrage that you might see between S8 being higher than market might disappear.So that being said, it’s more important to lead by location than strategy.Happy to talk further if you like.  

@Kyle Cross, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think maybe what you're getting at is potentially pitching to your parents that you would like to take a shot at personally managing the units to gain experience and some form of compensation.

Typically, we see anywhere from $600 to over $1000 per unit (maintenance and turn costs)  depending on these factors.