My family owns a few properties around San Fernando Valley (if you're familiar with that area) and we have some liquid capital on hand to invest jointly in either multifamily commercial properties or SFH.

We have some liquid capital on hand to invest jointly in either multifamily commercial properties or SFH.

However, I could file jointly with my sister to increase the qualification to $450k.

They're all about me, me, me and see the transaction as a zero-sum game.However, when it comes to buyers and sellers, I have seen some genuinely money-crazed people. 

If you have broken or missing bricks, missing mortar, open joints, etc, you need to “repoint” or “tuck point” the mortar, and replace broken or missing bricks.

If a fast food joint is pulling out of an area I see that as a huge red flag.

You want the mice to take over the joint? 

Get a farmers in there and look closely, are there roots at every joint?

I'm not going to partner with someone who is not committed to "Partnering" (which to me is a joint effort towards a common goal--looking out for each other as well as ourselves).In a nutshell I am looking to be FAIR to the other person (as well as to myself) vs exploiting someone due to having an upper hand, and I expect the same from the other person.

You may benefit from an LLC or some other form of joint venture agreement.You'll want to talk to a business attorney who has worked with real estate investors.