The Truth About Rent To Own
Most of us are very familiar with the term “rent to own”. Places
such as Prime Time and Rent A Center have built an empire with rent
to own merchandise, although the buyer normally ends up paying
double what the merchandise is actually worth. While this may be
great for those who have bad credit, most of us prefer to avoid
going this route. Homes are no exception, especially if you are
buying a home on a rent to own basis.
Even though rent to own may be good for a short period of time, it
proves to be an expensive way for someone to buy something they
intend to keep. Rent to own merchandise for example, may sound quite
compelling at a few dollars a week. The agreement is normally for
around 15 - 20 months, which is where the company makes their money.
Although you may be paying just a few dollars a week, the total
amount quickly adds up to nearly twice the cost of the item.
Along with paying rent, you’ll also have to pay applicable sales tax
as well. Like merchandise, rent to own real estate has it’s
disadvantages. Even though it can be great for those with not so
great credit, you’ll normally end up paying back a lot more than you
would with a mortgage. You’ll still have to pay back your lender
with a mortgage, although that amount won’t be nearly as high as it
would if you decided to get a house on a rent to own basis.
In most cases, rent to own houses are put up on the market by the
owner. This way, you’ll deal only with the owner. It will start out
as a traditional lease, then proceed to a rent to own basis if you
decide you want to keep the home. You and the owner will then work
out an arrangement, which will normally be quite a few years. Some
owners are very flexible and will work with you just to get the
price they want for their home, while others will charge you quite a
bit more, in order to make a hefty profit.
If you have bad credit and can’t get approved for a mortgage, then
rent to own would be your alternative. Although some don’t like to
do it due to the price, for many it’s a better alternative than an
apartment. With rent to own houses you are paying money towards the
home, instead of just paying rent. In some cases this is fine,
although you should make sure to double check with the owner before
you agree or commit to anything. This way, you’ll know how much
you’ll be paying for the home - and for how long.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob Schwartz, is a Certified Residential
Specialist, CA licensed real estate broker with
www.Brokerforyou.com. Bob
has over 27 years of residential real estate experience, authored a
number of published articles and served as an expert witness for
San Diego lawyers. You can contact
Bob via e-mail at bob@brokerforyou.com or visit his highly popular
San Diego real estate website at:
http://www.brokerforyou.com
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