Maybe a comp in money or possibly some gift cards for dinner

You could keep the title legally in their name and send (up to the gift tax exclusion--$14k/yr per parent) rental income to your account with no taxes.

When I asked about using an outside/private investor to help with down payment, he said that that was not allowed, in general, saying that you cannot use a gift as a down payment for a house.  

Pay rent for one month just to get your next Tenet or give a gift card or something

I currently own a limited partnership in Section 8 housing which creates phantom income issues for me, therefore I am exploring ways to dispose of this partnership unit by either gifting, selling or transfer my ownership.

We give them a handful of documents along with the lease (i.e. a lead disclosure and what not) and also leave a "move in gift" which is mostly cleaning supplies, a cheap plunger and the like (hint, hint).

Not to mention that breaking into the house dramatically increases the chances of wearing an orange jumpsuit for the next 10-15 years.Some who you have labeled "sissies" may merely respect our nation's laws and have set a higher bar for issues that they are willing to sacrifice their most precious of gifts; freedom.

Savings is best and depending on the type of loan (usually FHA) there are restrictions on family loans (must be gifts)

You could buy emoticons for money (real money) and sell, trade, gift or keep them.

This keeps it from appearing to be a "gift" in the eyes of the IRS.