Originally Posted by rowan

If you're a real asshole you can structure the deal so that you act as a middleman, charging a few percent over what you pay the bank yourself, and include a clause that if they default you take back the property (forfeiting all additional funds above normal rent they've paid, and any equity...)

I know of some shady characters who have done this, they've "sold" the same property multiple times because the rent to own tenants eventually default. The kind of people who are interested in rent to own are likely to have problems getting a normal bank loan, so there's a much higher chance from day 1 that they'll default. Easy money for the scammers.