How to Sell Your House by Lease Options

Editor's Comment: From a seller's point of view, selling a home by lease with option to buy has lots of potential benefits to each party.

How to Sell Your House by Lease Options
by: Caterina Christakos

Many people buy a house then have to move within a few years, due to divorce, relocation or financial difficulties. Without any equity though, it can be nearly impossible to find buyers and you still have realtor fees to contend with. There is a simple, easy way to have your payments taken care of for you and find a buyer, so that you can move onto your new life quickly and easily.

Homeowners can sell their homes by lease option.

Q: What are the benefits of selling my house on a lease option?

A: When you lease option your house, you sell the right to purchase your home at a set price within a predetermined period of time. During that time, the purchaser of the lease option pays you a set monthly fee. They pay what amounts to their rent to you with the provision that they can purchase your house within a certain period of time and have part of the rent that they have paid you applied to their final purchase price.

Editor's Comment: Because you can market to a broader market, and your buyer may not pay you until a year or two, your sales price can be higher and still be competitive.

Q: What are the advantages of selling my home by lease option over listing it with a Realtor?

A: By selling your home in this way, you avoid realtor fees and some other closing costs. You also have a tenant who intends to purchase your property. They will take better care of the home than a renter would and may even fix it up a bit for you. You also, naturally, have your payments taken care of and keep the tax benefits of owning your home, until the final sale.

Q: How long does it take before your tenant/buyer cashes me out?

A: That depends on a number of different factors. Many people with less than perfect credit can rebuild their credit and receive a mortgage from a mortgage broker within 6 consecutive payments.

Q: Why don’t I just sell the house myself?

A: If you have little or no equity in your home, it will not be considered a good investment by most buyers.

Q: What if my tenant/buyer doesn’t buy the house?

A: It is important to pre-screen buyers to make sure that they want to buy the house and are able to buy it at some point in the future. However, circumstances can change in someone’s life, such as an unexpected job transfer, that make it necessary to move. In situations like that, a new tenant buyer would have to be found.

About The Author

Caterina Christakos is an independent real estate investor and facilitator. For more information or help setting up your lease options and screening buyers email Caterina at CChrist896@aol.com.

Editor's Comment: This briefly covers most of the benefits to sellers, and there are many benefits to buyers as well, if the transaction is properly structured. For some good ideas, here is a good lease option course which I have purchased and used.