The struggle comes when you plan to sell, pay close attention to how the bank would treat the loan in the event you would sell.Even though its a bit more work, banks are typically open to these loans as it provides them with additional collateral in the event of default.  

And are they riskier than a typical conventional loan? 

@Hiyun Park only experienced investors can DIY everything in Class C Midwest areas like Detroit, Cleveland, St Louis, etc.Hopefully the info below will help you:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

For example, an algorithm can't compare a property that charges a flat fee for utilities vs one that charges based on use. 

Utilize financial analysis and market research to make informed investment decisions.

Renting at FMV ensures the property qualifies as an investment while preserving its long-term utility for your portfolio.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

@David F.As Russell mentioned co-ops are probably 1/2 the price of a condo and you would also have extensive costs to set up a co-op and typically it’s my understanding the builder funds the first 1-2 years of reserves.

Sale Price$171,000 - $55,000 (Rehab) - $13,680 (8% fees) - $40,000 (profit) = $62,320 MAOFrom talking to other investors and doing research, typically a Novation allow more money to the seller, correct? 

Additionally, how many calls does it typically take you to successfully close a deal using this approach?

It is typically lower than cash-on-cash and you can put it somewhere around 6% conservatively.