Can Realtor Help Us Find Rent-to-own Home?
Q: It has been almost a year since the short sale of our previous home. We don’t believe we will be able to qualify for a mortgage for a while yet. Do Realtors assist buyers in finding a situation where we could rent a home for a period of time (say, a year), with the intention of purchasing it at the end of that time period? Or is that not really something Realtors do?
A: An experienced Realtor will be able to put together for you a rent-to-own contract (also called a Lease Purchase). Don’t hesitate to call your Realtor to ask. If they are uncomfortable doing this type of contract, then ask to speak to their Branch Manager who will have the knowledge to be able to craft a Lease Purchase contract. A Lease Purchase is a GREAT way to lock in on today’s home prices, and live in a home to get to know the neighborhood, but be able to obtain the financing later. I would also suggest speaking to a lender now to outline your situation so that you can really be ready in a year to complete the purchase. Good luck!
A: Yes, a Realtor can definitely help you find a rent-to-own home, also known as a lease with option to buy. A lease with a purchase option offers flexibility to a potential real estate buyer. The program works exactly like it sounds; it gives the renter the option to buy. For buyers a lease option can be a great way to go because it gives them an exclusive option to buy the property being rented and binds the seller but not the buyer.
Reasons to enter into a lease option include the better use of a buyer’s time and money by allowing a renter the time to secure financing, save money, reduce debt and acquire financing. Additionally, since the purchase option price of the home is usually fixed when the lease is signed, another plus in an up market can be when home values increase over the term of the lease while the fixed option price remains constant, a buyer/renter can actually be earning equity while renting. Done properly, a lease option can be quite a good deal for a buyer. On the down side, if the value of the property decreases over the term of the lease the buyer has lost nothing since he can simply walk away at the end of the lease term.
Another plus is that lease options typically apply a portion of the rent paid towards the down payment on the home and because of this they work as a great way for people to purchase a home when they don’t have the money readily available for a down payment. First time buyers should take a look at a lease option as a simple and effective way to defer buying a home while saving more for that down payment.
Read more: Can Realtor help us find rent-to-own home? | REALTOR.com® Blogs
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