What this actually looks like
The whole arrangement, walked through one stage at a time — what you do, what it costs, what you sign, and what can go wrong. Switch sides to see the same deal from the other party's point of view.
Buyer journey
You search, and you see everything
You filter by monthly payment, bedrooms, and structure. Every card shows the purchase price, the monthly credit, and the option term before you click. There is no "unlock this listing" step, because there is nothing to unlock.
You open the listing and read the proposed terms
The listing page carries all eight material terms with real values — including the maintenance threshold, the cure period if you pay late, and what happens to your money if you walk away. Every term is on the listing, so you can read it before you call anyone.
You run your own numbers
The calculator shows what accrues across the term so you can compare it against renting. On this home, three years of on-time payments plus the option fee puts $32,265 toward the purchase — and leaves $347,235 to finance when you exercise.
You message the owner directly
Your enquiry goes to that one seller. Not to a lender, not to an agent, not to a marketing list. You create an account only at this point, and only so the conversation has somewhere to live.
You tour the home and negotiate
You walk the property with the owner. Because the terms were published, the conversation starts at "can we move the option fee to two instalments" rather than at "so what's the price." Anything you agree that differs from the listing gets written into the agreement.
Your attorney reviews the agreement
The listing states the eight material terms so nothing is left vague; the agreement itself is between you and the seller, and we do not supply it. We are not your lawyer. Have your own read it — this is a multi-year commitment with your money inside it.
You sign and pay the option fee
You and the seller sign the lease and the option agreement together, each with your own counsel. The option fee is paid to the seller through escrow, and on this listing it credits in full toward the purchase price. Your locked price is now fixed for 36 months regardless of what the market does.
You get the keys
You live there as a tenant with a purchase right. Taxes, insurance, and utilities are yours during the term, and repairs under $400 an incident are yours too — the owner covers above that, plus roof, HVAC, and structure.
Every on-time payment adds to your balance
$580 of each $2,300 payment accrues toward the purchase. Your dashboard shows the running total and the date your option expires, with reminders at 90, 60, and 30 days out. Use the time to get mortgage-ready.
You exercise, finance, and close
You give 60 days' written notice, apply for a mortgage on the $347,235 balance, and close within 45 days through a licensed title agent. Your credits come off the price at closing. The deed is recorded in your name.
What happens if you can't buy
You move out at the end of the lease like any tenant. You are not sued for the balance and no deficiency follows you — but you do lose the accrued credits and the option fee. That is the trade this structure asks you to make, and it's why we publish the number on the listing rather than in the small print.
Owner journey
You start a draft and set your terms
Address, photos, and property details, then the eight terms: price, option fee, monthly credit, term length, maintenance threshold, cure period, assignment, and closing window. If you're unsure where to set the credit, use your own market research and legal advice.
An administrator reviews before anything publishes
Payment is required before you submit for review, except in states where we aren't taking payment yet. An administrator then checks the material terms, seller disclosures, photos and property details for completeness. You attest to ownership; we do not independently confirm ownership of record or search title. Incomplete listings do not go live.
Approval publishes your listing
The fee is $249 per property per year. The first 22 sellers to list pay $149 for the first year of their first listing, then $249 annually. You can stop future renewal anytime. Approval publishes the listing you paid to submit. A final rejection is fully refunded, while a request for changes does not trigger a refund. Withdrawing or stopping renewal does not create a partial-year refund unless required by law.
Informed buyers contact you
Enquiries land in your dashboard with the listing they relate to. Buyers can read your proposed price and terms before contacting you, then ask questions about the offer. Sending an enquiry does not mean they have accepted those transaction terms.
You sign and collect the option fee
You and the buyer sign a lease and option agreement, prepared with your own counsel, that carries the terms you listed; the option fee is paid to you through escrow. From this point you have a committed buyer at a price you chose.
You collect rent and hold the asset
The tenant-buyer covers taxes, insurance, and repairs under the threshold you set. You remain the owner of record until they exercise, so depreciation and mortgage interest continue to sit with you — worth confirming with your accountant, as the tax treatment of lease options is not uniform.
They buy, and you close
You receive 60 days' notice, they finance the balance, and you close through a licensed title agent within 45 days. The accrued credits come off the price you already agreed — no renegotiation, no agent commission on either side of the listing.
You keep the fee and relist
You retain the option fee and the accrued credits, you've collected rent throughout, and the property comes back to you. That's the compensation for having taken it off the market — and it's the reason the forfeiture term has to be disclosed to the buyer clearly and early.
See a real listing with all eight terms
Purchase price, credit, and option term on the page — before you talk to anyone.
Open an example listing