As your equity grows from the tenant paying down the mortgage (rent) and the economy (appreciation),...both free gifts to you,...it grows on a 1 to 1 basis. 

With a gift of equity as down payment, I filled out the paperwork and took official ownership of the house.

Most engineer investors I know are also big time DIYers, and that can be a gift and a curse. 

If you have family with some funds available you may be able to get funds from them , but the bank will want to see the funds as a gift and not a loan...

Originally posted by @David Arsene:To the contractors on here, any gift suggestions that say "thank you times a million, you are 1 in 100 and my business is 110% dependent on you"?

@Ramsey Persing  Well, money from a private lender is certainly no gift since there's an expectation of it being paid back. 

I've also heard others give a gift card and/or $25 for the temporary inconvenience of not having heat.

Tenant leaves and of course never seen one broom clean. now you have a vacancy you have a turn over which usually is 1k to much more if they gave you some parting gifts.. so 75 bucks even though landlord is correct just cost them minimum of 2k  if no real damage.. all over 75 dollars and NOT UNDERSTANDING your client/Tenant I have seen this act so many times with clients of mine.. landlording simply is not for everyone.. and I feel that a good reason that many landlords fail is its their own darn fault..

But thanks for telling everyone not to worry about gifts as long as they are less than $12M.

And, with a second home approach you can receive a temporary buydown from the seller, as well as gift funds, both of which aren't allowed for investment.