1. The construction of property is yet to begin, hence you can enter into a sale agreement with your father to purchase a flat as promised by him in return of the funds you had provided him. Sale deed for non existing structure is not valid. Alternately you can lend the money and evidence that by entering into a loan agreement or obtain a promissory note, so that you can proceed at a later stage as per the oral promise to get a flat registered on your name in lieu of this loan amount.
2. The answer for this question is given above.
3. The unregistered sale agreement is not enforceable in law especially in case of a dispute in this regard, you may not be able to get the flat registered if he refuses.
Hence you and your wife can give a power of attorney deed in favor of any close relative in India to enter into the sale agreement with your father which can be registered through your power agent itself to make the sale agreement valid in the eyes of law.
.4 You can decide about the quantum of money to be transferred to him based on the market value of the property desirous to buy.
5. Do not transfer the funds on the basis of gift just to avoid stamp duty in the context of the registration of the sale agreement.
A registered sale agreement would protect your interest and a safety for the funds you have transferred to your father.
If there was no problem foresaw in this transaction, you would not have got any doubt about this transfer, hence in order to safeguard your money and also to secure the desired flat at a later stage, it is advisable that you enter into a sale agreement with your father and get it registered through your power of attorney agent so that the sale agreement is recognised as a legally valid document for all future needs.