A lease purchase agreement might be a good option if you're struggling to sell your house or can't afford to buy one outright. Let me explain how it works and what you need to consider if you're interested in this kind of deal as a buyer or seller.

 

What's a Lease Purchase Agreement?

A lease purchase agreement in real estate is like a rent-to-own deal between a tenant and a landlord. Here's the deal: the tenant can buy the property later on. To secure this, the renter pays an upfront fee to the seller at an agreed price, locking in the right to purchase the property.

They both settle on the future purchase price of the house when the lease ends. Usually, part of the rent each month goes towards a down payment. But, the renter needs to be sure they can get a mortgage by the end of the lease, or else they lose the option to buy.

Lease Option

Lease purchase agreements are mixed up with lease options a lot. They both involve that upfront fee that's not refundable. During the lease, the landlord can't sell the property to someone else, and the tenant gets the chance to buy later. However, there's a key difference.

In a lease option, the seller only promises to sell. However, in a lease-purchase agreement, both parties commit to the sale unless someone breaks the deal or the buyer can't get a mortgage. Buyers usually cover maintenance, property taxes, and insurance costs. Also, they might pay more rent than usual to chip in for the down payment.

 

How to Structure a Lease Purchase Agreement

Lease purchase agreements usually involve two contracts: one for leasing and the other for the end-of-lease sale. These contracts will have rules that say breaking one part, like missing a payment, might cause a problem in the other contract.

Lease Duration

The leasing part will be like a regular lease but with extra things, like making the buyer pay for maintenance, taxes, and insurance. It will say how long the lease is and how much monthly rent to pay. Usually, lease purchase agreements have longer leases, maybe up to 3 years.

Watch out for special things like the option fee, purchase price, and down payment. Both sides agree to an option fee that makes the landlord sell to the tenant later, even if the landlord changes their mind. But this fee can’t be taken back, and it can be any amount.

This part also says some rent money goes toward a down payment. For example, if someone pays $2,000 a month on a $250,000 home and $400 each month goes to a down payment, after a 24-month lease, they could use $9,600 (3.8%) as a down payment. But if they change their mind and don’t buy, they lose the down payment.

Sale Contract

This part explains how buying works after the lease ends. No matter how long the lease is, both sides agree on a price (based on the home’s value) when they start renting. Usually, the price is higher to cover any increase in value. They both must stick to this price, no matter what happens in the market.

The buyer needs to get a mortgage loan for the property. If the tenant couldn’t get a mortgage before the lease, they can show the agreed-upon down payment plan to the lender for a better deal. When the lease ends, the lender gives the money to the seller to change the property's title.

Having a real estate lawyer check this contract before signing is smart. Sometimes, if you can’t get a loan, you might have to pay back everything, even if you can’t afford it. That’s why it’s good to talk to a lawyer before agreeing to any real estate deal.

 

Pros and Cons of Lease Purchase Agreements for Buyers

When someone signs a lease-purchase agreement, they'll need to be okay with taking some risks to get rewards later on.

Pros for Buyers

• Time to Get Financially Ready

Renting before buying lets you save money for a down payment and beef up your income. This helps you become more capable of owning a home. Plus, it lets you handle debts and shows you can pay bills on time.

• Locking in Price and Property

When market prices keep changing, saving for a house is tough. With a lease purchase deal, you can pick your dream home and its price without paying everything upfront.

• Trying Out the Home and Area

You might lose some money if you decide the place isn’t right for you. But it's a chance to determine if the property and neighborhood suit your long-term plans.

Cons for Buyers

• Losing Your Money

If you can't boost your finances enough to qualify for a mortgage by the deadline, you kiss goodbye to your option fee and extra rent you paid to the seller. Also, you might need to move, which can cost you more.

• Seller's Financial Issues

If the seller doesn't keep up with payments like insurance or property taxes, you might face problems. It could stop you from buying the property or even lead to you being evicted.

• Seller Backing Out

If the house value shoots up during your lease, the seller might ditch the deal if there’s no penalty in the contract.

 

Pros and Cons of Lease Purchase Agreement for Sellers

The homeowner must be ready to take some risks if they want to sell their house and get potential rewards.

Pros for Sellers

• Sell a Hard-to-sell Home

A lease purchase agreement might be the answer if selling the house the usual way didn’t work out.

• Make Money Even if the Sale Fails

The upfront fee, extra rent, and regular rental income can be better than having the property empty.

• Get a Responsible Tenant

Someone looking to buy might take better care of the property.

Cons for Sellers

• Miss Out on Higher Value

Agreeing on a fixed price might not be great if the local market booms unexpectedly.

• Problematic Tenant

Even someone wanting to buy might not take care of the place or pay rent. Evicting them can be burdensome and costly.

• Buyers Changing Their Mind

If the home's value drops, the buyer might bail. Plus, there's no assurance they'll get a mortgage when it's time to buy.

 

The Bottom Line

Take lease purchase agreements seriously, just like buying a home. They help owners selling tough-to-sell houses and renters needing extra time for a loan. Always check these agreements with a lawyer before finalizing anything.