--I would prefer my first property to be in San Diego so I can eventually gift it to one of my two children.

Jesus,You might want to consider doing a "Gift of Equity" purchase. 

In Raleigh and surrounding areas I don't think there are many duplex/triplex type properties so the easiest way seems to be with a big enough single family home.Is anyone currently in Raleigh or surrounding areas doing this and have any advice?

A couple months later my buddy saved thousands, and I was gifted a nice 18-year-old scotch. ;-)

Most people on BP that are complaining about tenants already in the property are in situations where the new owner wants to greatly increase the rents and it is not the easiest to take a tenant paying $800 and increase their rent to $1,000 (especially during COVID).

In this case, you and your parents would report it on your tax returns.If there is an instance where you and your parents are on title and your parents quit claim it to you, there may be potential gift tax implications.

We're under contract to purchase a seasonal lodge w/rental cabins, a restaurant, gift shop, etc.

Freddie Mac considers the following to be interested party contributions:Funds from the Seller, originating lender, an employer, a municipality, a non-profit organization and a Related Person, are subject to the interested party contributions requirements if the contributing party is affiliated with any of the interested parties as stated in the paragraph above, except as stated below for gifts from a Related Person and lender credit.Funds from an interested party that flow through a third-party organization or a non-profit agency to the BorrowerFunds from an interested party, including a third-party organization or a non-profit agency, used to pay costs associated with the Mortgage transaction on the Borrower's behalfFunds that are donated to a third party, which in turn provides the funds to pay some or all of the Borrower's Closing CostsSo it doesn't sound like it should be a problem.

Whenever we buy a house to work on we send every surrounding neighbor a handwritten card introducing ourselves, my contact information, a preemptive apology for the noise and disturbance along with a $20 gift card to Starbucks or amazon.

We're under contract to purchase a seasonal lodge w/rental cabins, a restaurant, gift shop, etc.