Landlord help, tenant has asked for rent to buy?????

Landlord help, tenant has asked for rent to buy?????

Los Gatos, CA · Member since 2017 · 10 posts · 0 votes

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone can help me understand (OK simplify) the rent to buy process

My tenant has been in a year and asked if I would sell to them.  We make absolutely no money on this house and actually pay $6000 a year as their rent doesn't cover the mortgage.  This is without any issues that arise too.  There is already a drop of $70,000 from what we paid and its possible worth but guess that shouldn't factor in as I need to work out whats left to pay and what we have put in primarily.

Does anyone know my next move?  I guess we need to agree a price?  The tenant just signed a new 1 year lease but has also complained that the driveway needs relaying and that the deck is falling to pieces so guess this is a ploy to start negotiations on selling price.

I understand that they pay the rent for a given time, plus extra that we hold as a deposit/down payment so assume I can get that contract drawn up by a real estate attorney who can also work on closing once the agreed upon timeframe ends (is this better than a realtor or should I just go with one and pay the 5%?

Really appreciate any advice, good or bad as need to start somewhere, I have to remember that if they want 3-5 years then I still have to pay extra for that mortgage payment so need to factor that and closing costs into my final agreed price but hear that any repairs from the agreed day forward are the potential buyers concern so I guess they should do an inspection themselves before we agree a price.

Property is in NJ, thx

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  • Rental Property Investor · Huntsville, AL · Member since 2013 · 419 posts · 323 votes
    8y

    I get this question from prospective renters, but not current ones.  Usually it's a tactic of the unqualified.  They often think that an option to buy would be cheaper.

    My terms:

    Lease with option to buy, not rent to own.

    10% option of agreed upon price.

    1/2 option paid upfront, 1/2 added to current rent price spread out over 2-3 years.

    All option fees paid is non-refundable (credited as down payment if it goes to sale)

    If tenant fails to exercise option at end of option period, all money is forfeit.

    Historically, I've heard statistics that these option to buy situations almost never make it to closing.  The other down side is, 2-3 years out, your market may hit a hot spot and your option price is to low and you've left money on the table.

  • Nicole A.Pro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Baltimore County Maryland and Tampa Florida · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    8y

    If you're losing money--especially that much--perhaps you should sell it immediately than do a rent-to-own scenario. Generally speaking, right now is a seller's market. Get out of the money pit is what I say. Offer to sell it to them traditionally or put it on the MLS.

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