If you don't own a home, did you know there is a grant program that will gift you your 3.5% down payment for an FHA loan and you may NEVER have to pay it back if you qualify.  

Risk and appreciation are intricately linked.  

You could also cut them a "thank you" check or send them a gift basket if you still feel like doing more.

After speaking with a bank, I have also learned that "gift money" as they call it cannot be used as a down payment to obtain financing for an investment.

The program has produced a lot of wealth for its members....well, at least the ones who participate and take action.Bottom line, you're likely going to pay one way or another unless you buy your own deal and are gifted with a natural enough instinct to run it well w/o training from those who've been there, done that.

You can work within legal annual gifting limits to give a portion of that rent back to your parents each year.  

You may want to consider either a family gift and go for the FHA loan or wait until you've saved enough for FHA. 

That being said, I won't follow that method if the gifting of the properties to me would have a large negative impact on her taxes.

I know if they just wire me 60k that it will be subject to a hefty gift tax.

I think you can receive " gifted " funds from a family member but not 100% sure.