Traditionally these are the exact areas that can appreciate the most.

I've been wondering if it would make more sense to put a tankless water heater into a rental property as opposed to your standard traditional tank.

I'm still trying to get the lingo down to see what options are available.Something I learned today from one of the Podcasts is you can get traditional mortgages especially if you're doing a buy and hold for the first few of them.  

You'll find out what is traditional I.

So here is how I would set this up: Kitchen: Appliances - $6,000 Cabinets - $10,000Countertop - $70-110/sqftSink - $1,500Faucet - $500Cab pulls - $500 (or $6-10/pull) Install - $2,000Flooring: Floor product (unfinished): (expect to pay 4 - 10 dollars per board foot for anything quality) Floor finishing (sanding, coating etc) roughly $3/Sq ft (as long as you are using a standard coating (polyurethane) if you want to go higher end with an oil or stain expect this to jump to 4-5/sq ft Bathrooms:Demo: $/hour x expected hours Underlayment: Schulter Shower System (approx: 500/shower enclosure) Tile/grout/thinset: 6-10 sq/ftInstall: $3-6 sq/ft Lighting and Electric: (pricing includes installation)   Switches: approx $30/switch  (this assumes a mid range Leviton 3-way dimmer) Outlets: $10 (TR Leviton duplex, GFI where needed and duplex/USB combo in Kitchen Island and a few choice locations) Lighting:Surface mount approx $150/fixtureCan: approx. $250/fixture (assuming old work install by electrician)A little more on why I do it this way: Kitchen: You can figure out exactly how much your kitchen is going to cost before you start.

I do not have a home and I currently rent an apartment so it seems that my best choice would be do buy a multi-family unit.

I believe you are referring to Self Directed IRA's (SD IRA or SDIRA)....try to do a search on them on here or online and educate yourself on them.Other reading....http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/51/topics/63454-list-of-self-directed-ira-companieshttp://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/51/topics/64530-best-self-directed-ira-trust-companies-http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/51/topics/58063-who-is-your-self-directed-ira-custodian-of-choice-why-http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/3258-self-directed-retirement-plans

I can not get traditional financing, the purchase price is too low for lenders that lend based on property dti, and I am not willing to give him more than 15k down.The solution: Create a 2nd position note for 15k and a option to purchase in a year or two at 45k with principal and interest as a down payment.

One other thought is for a traditional loan the bank wants to see the $ in your account for 30-60 days.

Conceivably, these siblings would either list and sell the asset to your investor (for which you receive commission #1) or you bring in a developer/syndicator.In the second scenario, siblings would partner up and contribute their equity into the formal or informal partnership and the developer/syndicator would bring experience (successful track record), and other resources including builders, design architects, engineers, and entitlement experts for zoning and building approval, depending in the scale of the project.A third choice exists whereby siblings attempt development themselves.