I’m doing DD and figuring ways to mitigate risk.

Returns are a function of barrier to entry, effort and risk.

Think from a bank's perspective.A owner-occupied 30 year mortgage is at risk of the borrower losing their income becoming disabled, any number of personal crises.A rental home 30 year mortgage is at risk of the same issues, but you can boot the tenant and find a new one -- thus resolving the issue.I'd argue that rental mortgages are far less risky than conventional mortgages, and the fact is a conventional mortgage is ensured by the federal government "ironclad" so the fact that the pricing is the same when a rental mortgage doesn't have that federal backing really speaks volumes.Let's fund one!

It all depends on how your agent is able to convey the reason of the contingency and negotiate with the listing agent (As listing agents, they want to mitigate risks for their clients as well).For Condos in the Bay Area, you could be exposed to higher risk because of the new SB326 Balcony Law.

They have to present the offer whether they like it or not.On the other side of the coin, the Realtor is probably advising their client that seller financing incurs more risk to the seller.

For me, the biggest advantage is legal compliance and risk mitigation.

Having someone on title with you that you don't know, as a "business partner" puts you in lawsuit risk for anything they do.

If not, well, a confused homeowner always says "No".𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀: Look for property owners with a problem, in markets that favor buyers: increasing inventory, declining sales, price reductions, long days on the market.𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀: Decide the 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 of lease option you are offering and craft the terms accordingly, agreeing on option to purchase price, lease duration, and monthly rent.𝗡𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Ensure your agreements are clear, legal, and protects all sides.𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲: Depending upon the type of lease option and your objective, either assign the option to a buyer for a fee, or exercise it yourself when the time’s right.Lease options are a low-risk, low cost entry into real estate investing—start small, take action, then grow.

It's stock market thinking applied to real estate: limit you invested $ amount to curb risk. 

There are high risk and low risk strategies in both stocks and real estate.