text: YES! I personally have purchased 2 houses and a 3 unit apartment house this way. I put a grand total of 12 dollars down payment ( in MI, a real estate contract isn't valid unless some money changes hands) I flipped 2 of them and kept the 3 unit for a couple of years, then sold it too. My credit score is around 525 but I never went through any credit checks with the owners. It does take a LOT of persistence and determination though.