Not worth trying to cut out the leasing commission to do it yourself.

While I told him already I will never cut him in on a deal out of "being my brother" I think it is right that I grant him some sort of value because he would be over paying on rent by $500 by living here and I have already told him I would give him an equity split, far more than what I will actually end up giving him in the end.

Now that property takes all attentions, I cut rent by $100 but still cannot compete with that price.

I don't see any line items for landscaping items: grass cutting, annual mulching, cleanup, and snow removal (if you are in an area with snow).  

so that typically means you're either (1) starting with a pretty distressed property, or (2) finding something where you can add bedrooms and bathrooms.a cosmetic rehab generally doesn't cut it whether you do the repairs yourself or hire them out.

To cut to the meat of your story:1.

I know it's talked about all the time, but I recommend people leave their equity and focus on increasing income, cutting expenses, and saving for the next investment.

I don’t do a lot of deals but when I do I do it very uniquely and cut out anyone that’s trying to make a profit but me.

The pennies saved today are at cost of the dollars tomorrow when cutting out "boots on" professional management. 

Go to meetups, tell your story, and I bet you'll find experienced investors that will help you out (by giving you advice, not by cutting you a check or partnering).