Definitely very stressful and scary.

In the beginning many investors self manage to cash flow a bit more, but stress has its price tag.

That will save you some time and emotional stress before starting down this path. 

Just looking for opinions, to me it's just a business transaction, plus it will end a year long stress.

Even if you keep it and end up in small claims court, between taking off from work and the stress that comes with it, it is not worth it. 

Secondly as a fellow Chicagoan I want to stress to you the importance of educating yourself about real estate.

@Patrick Britton - it really sounds like you'[re no different than most of us - trying to find "the spot" that provides you with the correct ratio of passive income to stress.  

It was a win for her because she was able to stay in a home as if she were purchasing the home, but did not have to have the stress of repairing things when they broke, plus, it was still significantly less than renting the home would have been.

Despite being stressful, I managed the whole process myself while living out of state and learned a great deal.

The project paid out very well still- but, during construction, was stressful for me.Side Note: You may want to have a commercial mortgage broker with experience in construction financing assist to.