Rent-to-Own, Done Properly.
Most programs will take anyone with a pulse and a deposit. We will not. Every deal we write is underwritten, and every buyer has a documented path to a mortgage before they move in.
How It Works
Take the 60-second qualifier. No credit check to see your options.
1
We underwrite properly. Income, debt-to-income, credit, and a documented refinance plan from a licensed loan officer.
2
If it works, we structure the deal. Purchase price locked in writing, lease term set, option terms agreed up front and in plain language.
3
You move in and work toward qualifying. When you are mortgage-ready, you exercise the option and buy the home.
4
What a Lease With Option to Purchase Is
You lease the home now and hold the right to buy it later at a price agreed today. You are a tenant until you exercise that option, and the option is yours to use or not.
The point of the arrangement is time. Time for a self-employed buyer to show two years of returns. Time for someone to get past a credit event. Time for a divorce to finish settling. The house stops being a moving target while that happens.
It is not a mortgage and it is not a substitute for one. It is a bridge to one, and it only makes sense if the far side of the bridge is real.
What We Require
A minimum of 10% down. Most programs ask 20%. We do not go below 10%.
Income that supports the payment, verified rather than stated.
A documented path to a conventional refinance from a licensed loan officer.
A property in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Georgia, or Florida.
When This Is Not the Right Answer
You have less than 10% down. We would rather tell you now than take your money.
There is no realistic route to a mortgage within a few years. A lease option without an exit is just an expensive rental.
You could qualify conventionally today. If a lender will write you a loan, take the loan.
You need somewhere to live this week. This is a considered purchase, not emergency housing.
If any of those describe you, tell us anyway. Sometimes the useful answer is what would need to change and how long it would take.
Common Questions
Do you check credit?
Not to show you your options — that costs nothing and involves no credit check. Before we write a deal, yes. We review credit as part of underwriting, because the whole arrangement depends on you being able to get a mortgage later.
How much do I need down?
A minimum of 10%. Most programs in this space require 20%, which is why so many people are told no.
Is the purchase price locked?
Yes. The price is agreed and written into the option at the start, so the home does not get more expensive while you work toward qualifying.
How long are the terms?
Typically one to five years, set around how long your refinance plan actually needs.
What if I decide not to buy?
The option is a right, not an obligation. You can walk. Option consideration and rent credits are generally not refundable, and that is spelled out in the agreement before you sign anything.
Where do you operate?
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Georgia, and Florida.
Can money that is on the way count?
Often yes. Funds coming from a home sale, a settlement, or an inheritance can count. Tell us the timing and we will tell you whether it works.
See Where You Actually Stand
Sixty seconds, no credit check to see your options, and a straight answer either way.