Gifting equity in a house may be more trouble than it is worth if you are not near the life-time exclusion1) Potentially having to get the property appraised everytime an equity is gifted2) Having a title company update the title every time3) Exemption of the gift tax return is normally for cash gifts below the annual gift tax exclusion, you may still need to file if you gift non-cash4) If there is partial ownership over several years, having to properly pro-rate certain items such as real estate taxes, mortgage interest and rental income if the property is a rentalBest of luck 

What would be my best approach, I assume find a private lender and work out some deal with them.

Take some time to meet people—connect with agents, lenders, property managers, and investment advisors.

If its the business then asset based lenders may be interested.

I'm in a team who does these deals and we have a team of "door knockers" who go back weekly till the auction, they file bankruptcy which only delays 3+/- months 100% chance that the lender will as that their mortgage is removed from the bankruptcy they file NOD yet again.   

Lock-out, should they continue to not come even, would be typically less than 14-days.Unless the tenant comes even with the rent (which would result in dismissal of the non-payment of the case), there is generally limited defense to this process.

If you need lender recommendations use the forum to find out who others have used in your area. 

If you announce to people there that you are a private lender, you'll have a lineup around the room to talk to you.  

Your question has been debated between BP tax experts both privately and publicly, for example here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/51/topics/819991-expens...And we ended up where we started: no consensus and no clarity.There have also been court decisions that support my interpretation, even though I personally find these court decisions debatable.

I might have a private lender referral that does rural loans in Mid-MO if you're interested.