@Greg O'Brien - Thank you replying - it is specific to a Tax question regarding a RE transaction in CA (specifically regarding Gifting / Purchasing below Market value)

It became one of the books I buys as a Christmas gift for my friends, and really opened their eyes.  

Maybe a gift cards to Chili's or Olive Garden or something . 

While it is tempting to have grand visions of the future where you'll have so much money that you can shower your friends and family in money and gifts, that vision isn't productive.

That might be waiving the security deposit all together if they'd are responsible for coming up with that, offering a $500 grocery gift card on move in, or free internet to lower their monthly out of pocket.

Instead, you simply could have had the funds "gifted" to you, if you were to occupy the residence.

Have any of you included a gift basket or welcome kit for your new tenants to begin a positive relationship from the start?

but that's also a gift action as I vaguely remember.For the investment, you need control of the property, with ownership on her death.Your sales strategies will only trigger a sales.Is there any wiggle room on taxes?  

It may not be an option in your case, you should always secure financing before starting your project if possible.Get a HELOC to get your down payment money back, this will only work if you can get 100% financing and no new appraisal is required since HELOC lenders are not going to work with you since you have a half-finished project.Get a loan from your retirement account 401K or IRAGet a gift or a loan from familyFor those of you who went on to buy another property, how did you get the funds together to close another deal immediately following your rehab on a previous project?

If I can recall correctly, you said it was a "parting gift".