@Clare Cui my questioning starts with a couple easy short answer questions (a sort of "yes" set").

For example this place claims to be able to rent for $6,000, and with 25% down that would be a $4200 payment, so $1800 cash flow (not yet factoring any sort of maintenance and whatnot of course, so just the mortgage/rent diff):https://www.redfin.com/SC/Columbia/1921-Pickens-St-29201/hom...Or to a lesser extent this place at $400 cash flow:https://www.redfin.com/SC/Columbia/1035-Kinard-Ct-29201/home...

Did you ever get any sort of agreement template that you ended up using? 

Well they wont know it and to save money by not having a lawyer advise them .. boom they take title to all sorts of nasty crap.

So, you while many unexpected repairs are not avoidable, if you know where the flexibilities in your project are you can manage the project to completion by making these sorts of decisions along the way. 

Actually, above that I'd love to see an opt-out clause if X of the raise goal is not achieved before closing.One may try to say it's a bait-and-switch of sorts, on risk levels, to close w/o the full funds IF the chances of quickly closing out the remaining raise are not realistic.

Assuming since you're asking, you're not interested in some sort of traditional financing?

The old saying of buying the ugliest in a great location fits this property, but after reading other posts I know there will probably be difficulties with gaining clear title from an Upset Sale in any sort of timely manner.  

Unfortunately when I went and checked reviews for them they were overwhelmingly negative, some of it was stuff you mentioned in your post above, but a lot of other reviews cited downright dishonesty, like the service taking money, not providing the list and not responding to any sort of email contact.

We are just forum members who contribute a ton.I think it is important to point out that these sorts of lists that they can make you aware of new areas, but they are not the end all be all of decision making.