Selling Real Estate on Lease Options – Lease Option Investing with Wendy Patton (2024)

In my three decades of real estate investing, I’ve never found a lower risk or more profitable strategy than selling real estate on lease options. I’m completely confident that you’ll be rewarded in the same way. Best yet, when you do this the right way, with a sandwich lease option, it’s a win-win-win for the property owner, you as the investor, and the end buyer.

Selling real estate on lease options using a sandwich option delivers the same three major financial rewards to both you as the investor and to the seller of the property. If you’ve ever wondered why a seller would agree to have you put a sandwich lease option together for them, the answer is because it provides immediate and tremendous benefits for the seller. The seller’s benefits begin immediately when a vacant or unaffordable property begins bringing in income from a property that was a financial drain only a couple of days ago. The property switches from costing the seller money to paying money overnight. That is the number one reason sellers love sandwich lease options.

Imagine you know about a vacant house that you are paying on every month. One the owner would rather sell than be the landlord of. But selling means the house will probably sit empty for another 3 to 6 months while the owner keeps paying the mortgage, utilities, and other costs – all without a nickel of income. Plus as the seller they will have to spend a few thousand more dollars preparing to sell the house on the retail market. It’s all a dreadful financial drain!

-or-

Imagine the house immediately starts paying a profit to the owner (and to you as the investor). That’s the difference selling real estate on lease options makesSelling Real Estate on Lease Options – Lease Option Investing with Wendy Patton (1) – X3. As the investor, you take out a lease option with the seller that immediately pays him or her the option fee plus starts paying the monthly rent (that’s two of the three financial benefits for the seller). You then immediately put an end buyer in place that pays you a higher option fee and higher rent (that’s two of the three financial benefits for you). This all happens within a week or two to turn a money pit into an income stream for both you and the seller.

The third payout for both you and the seller takes a little longer but is the biggest of the three payouts. That’s when the end buyer obtains financing to complete the purchase of the house.

Selling real estate on lease options is the quickest and least expensive technique available to investors. As the investor, you don’t have to meet the high and often unreasonable underwriting requirements of banks and other institutional lenders. Owner/sellers require very little documentation from lease option investors. The option fee substitutes for a down payment that the seller immediately puts in his or her pocket – without closing costs and without tons of documentation.

The seller is basically financing the property for the rent money – giving you control without ownership. The seller doesn’t need a bunch of documentation because he or she is still on the title of the house. What they are getting is cold hard cash for a property that was a dark pit swallowing cash a few days ago.

End buyers want lease options because of the little up-front cash required to get into a home they will soon own. The buyer is entering into a contract to purchase the house; he simply hasn’t completed the purchase.

As the investor, your goal is paying as low of an option fee to the seller as possible while collecting a higher option fee from the buyer. Sellers willing do this in exchange for the outstanding benefits they immediately receive.

During the option period, the house is appreciating in value. At the end of the option period, the house is worth more to the buyer than you owe to the seller. This builds in an extra profit margin for you as the investor. First, you negotiate a lower selling price with the seller than you will collect from the buyer. After the house appreciates in value for a year or two, the end buyer already has money in the house and is happy to complete the purchase for the higher selling price that goes into your pocket. Selling real estate on lease options is all about controlling the property without owning it!

All other investing methods are about one of two methods – 1. Buy and sell (flipping) or 2. Buy and hold (landlord). Selling real estate on lease options is the only method that combines the best of both to maximize profits when investors both collect rent and sell the property in a single deal. And it gets even better because with that you collect a higher rent that is paid on time, have a tenant who accepts homeowner responsibility, and you have a pre-determined sales price. Selling real estate on lease options is all about lowering your risk while maximizing your profit.

By Wendy Patton

For more than 35 years, I’ve used the Sandwich Lease Options System to earn myself and my students multiple millions of dollars. From my experience, I know there is plenty of room and opportunity in the real estate investment market for everyone wanting to participate and find profitable deals. It’s because of that fact and my personal success that I share the Sandwich Lease Option System with others.

If you found this information useful, please visit again soon at wendypatton.com.

For more exclusive content, please subscribe to my RSS Feed and YouTube Channel.

What did you think of this article? Please leave a comment below.

Selling Real Estate on Lease Options – Lease Option Investing with Wendy Patton (2024)

FAQs

What is the disadvantage of lease option to buy? ›

Cons. Typically requires an option fee in addition to your rent payments. Market shifts during your rental period may affect home value.

How to make money with lease options? ›

To make money with a lease option the investor must find a renter to pay more than the amount the investor agreed to with the property owner. For example, if the investor agreed to pay $1500 each month but finds a tenant to pay $1800 each month, the investor makes a monthly income of $300 for the property.

Are lease options a good idea? ›

For Buyers

Greater flexibility: Lease options can be great for those who aren't ready to commit to buying a home or know where they want to live.

What is a potential disadvantage for a buyer who enters into a lease with an option to buy contract? ›

Cons of a Lease Purchase Agreement for Buyers

Loss of down payment and option fee: If the buyer can't improve their finances enough to qualify for a mortgage by the sale date, they forfeit their option fee and additional rent payments (if any) to the seller.

What are the advantages of a lease option over a buy option? ›

Pros of lease-to-own agreements

If they decide not to purchase, they can simply walk away at the end of the lease term without any further obligation. Time to Build Equity: A portion of the monthly rent may be credited toward the eventual purchase price, allowing the tenant to build equity in the property over time.

What is the main difference between lease options and lease purchase agreements? ›

The difference between a lease option and a lease purchase agreement is that the lease option only obligates the seller to sell. A lease purchase agreement commits both parties to the sale barring breach of contract or the buyer's inability to secure a mortgage.

What is an example of an option lease? ›

For example, under a lease of 3 years with two options of 3 years each, the tenant can choose to end the lease after 3 or 6 years. However, under a single lease of 9 years, the tenant is committed to the full term of 9 years.

Is leasing a better option than financing? ›

Benefits of leasing usually include a lower up-front cost, lower monthly payments compared to buying, and no resale hassle. Benefits of buying usually are car ownership, complete control over mileage, and a firm idea of costs. Experts generally say that buying a car is a better financial decision for the long term.

What is a lease option strategy? ›

“A lease option is a contract in which a landlord and tenant agree that, at the end of a specified period, the renter can buy the property at a specified price. The tenant pays an up-front option fee and an additional amount each month that goes toward the eventual down payment.”

Do you save more money leasing or buying? ›

The answer depends on your priorities and factors such as how much you drive. In most cases, buying a car tends to be the cheaper option if you drive a lot and want to use the same car for the long term. However, leasing a car can mean driving a new car every few years.

Why is leasing so much cheaper than buying? ›

Leasing a car is much cheaper than buying it outright, because you're only paying a percentage of the total price. You won't have to worry about fetching a good price or finding a buyer for it when you're done, as the dealership will take it back from you.

What are the pros and cons of leasing? ›

The upside of leasing a car is not having to commit to long-term ownership and potentially making a much lower down payment. The downside is being limited with mileage and not getting to own a vehicle after years of payments. Understanding the pros and cons can help you make the best decision for you.

When the owner of a piece of leased property gives the lessee an option to buy the option? ›

A lease option is an agreement that gives a renter a choice to purchase the rented property during or at the end of the rental period. It also precludes the owner from offering the property for sale to anyone else. When the term expires, the renter must either exercise the option or forfeit it.

What are some of the risks involved in lease agreements? ›

  • 1 Rent and escalation. One of the most obvious financial risks in a lease agreement is the rent amount and how it will change over time. ...
  • 2 Security deposit and fees. ...
  • 3 Maintenance and repairs. ...
  • 4 Liability and insurance. ...
  • 5 Termination and renewal. ...
  • 6 Negotiation and review. ...
  • 7 Here's what else to consider.
Sep 14, 2023

What are the disadvantages of an option agreement? ›

What are the disadvantages for landowners? During the option period, the landowner cannot sell the property to anyone else. The option agreement is also likely to place restrictions on the landowner's ability to deal with the property in other ways, such as granting tenancies or refinancing the property.

What is the main reason to avoid renting to own? ›

Downsides of Rent-to-Own

Your rent may be higher with a rent-to-own property, especially if part of your payment is going toward the purchase price. There may be fees. Nonrefundable option fees vary, but you could lose money if you decide not to purchase the home.

Why do people lease instead of buy? ›

Leasing a car means you'll have lower monthly payments and you can typically drive a vehicle that may be more expensive than you could afford to buy. On the other hand, if you decide to buy a car, you'll own it in the end, even if it means you'll pay a higher monthly loan payment in the meantime.

Does rent-to-own hurt your credit? ›

Rent-to-own agreements are not reported to credit bureaus so your credit score is unaffected. Unless … if your expressed hope is to use the rent-to-own agreement period to build your credit score through on-time payments, you can ask the homeowner to report your payments to the credit bureau.

Does lease to own build credit? ›

It's true that rent-to-own programs may provide a window of time in which you can build or repair your credit. Unfortunately, the simple act of being in a rent-to-own contract and making consistent payments doesn't improve your credit score.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Annamae Dooley

Last Updated:

Views: 5933

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Annamae Dooley

Birthday: 2001-07-26

Address: 9687 Tambra Meadow, Bradleyhaven, TN 53219

Phone: +9316045904039

Job: Future Coordinator

Hobby: Archery, Couponing, Poi, Kite flying, Knitting, Rappelling, Baseball

Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.