How Does a Rent-to-Own Home Work?

Rent-to-own houses are a means for a person who has bad or no credit background to function toward owning a house. Leases for rent-to-own houses eliminate the need for a buyer to find a mortgage at the start of the deal. The purchaser will need to find financing to pay the remainder of the home’s sale price in the end of the rental option duration if she doesn’t have the financial resources to cover in total.

History

The rent-to-own approach may be used by sellers to dispose of their house quickly. The seller may need income from the rental due to a new house purchase or due to a job-related transfer. A difficult financial marketplace can prevent buyers from obtaining financing. The rent-to-own option allows a purchaser to commit to buying the house without obtaining a mortgage. Potential buyers can be thinned out by A property market. A seller may use the rent-to-own method to make the house more appealing to buyers, as the transaction doesn’t involve monetary institutions and may be less expensive for both parties.

Function

The vendor and the purchaser draw up an arrangement covering all areas of the rent-to-own procedure. Some parties employ an attorney to prepare the rent-to-own contract. Rent-to-own contracts typically state the amount of the monthly payment. There is a set interval given in the contract, such as three decades, after which the tenant has the choice to buy the home. The contract will incorporate the sales price of the house. The said price cannot be altered at the time the tenant reaches the buy option unless the vendor agrees, notes Les Christie, a staff writer with CNNMoney.com. The cost remains set even when the value of the house has decreased or increased since the start of the rent-to-own arrangement.

Features

The charge for a rent-to-own house is generally split into two components. The option fee is the portion of the monthly fee that goes toward the renter’s down payment when he should opt to buy the house at the end of the lease period, based on property advisor Steve McLinden of Bankrate.com. The option fees become income for the vendor in the event the tenant decides not to buy the house. The rent premium is the part of the monthly payment that the tenant pays for residing in the house. The premium is revenue for the vendor and doesn’t go toward the cost of the house.

Factors

A rent-to-own house gives the tenant time to save additional money toward the home’s purchase price whilst already paying down the entire sale amount. A tenant with credit issues preventing her from obtaining a mortgage loan may work on her credit history whilst renting. However, a tenant who pays can lose the choice fee for that month, based on the terms of the rent-to-own contract. The tenant is normally responsible for most home repairs during the rental area of the contract, based on Bankrate.com’s Steve McLinden. Exceptions to purchaser repairs can be negotiated and included in the contract.

Misconceptions

Rent-to-own agreements are legally binding, however, the tenant can walk away when he finds the house has significant issues. However, the tenant will generally still lose the option fee portion of the monthly payment. The tenant may nevertheless have to put a down payment on the house when registering for the rent-to-own arrangement, as in traditional mortgage loan purchases. This upfront option fee is generally a percentage of the home’s sales price.

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