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Investing Strategies

2 Killer Exit Strategies for Lease Options

navidadJamel Gibbs here, coming to you Moguls with a simple strategy on how to expand your business – and that is to consider more than just one or two ways to set up your deals. In particular, in this lesson, we’re going to hone in on lease options.

In working with other investors, I find they may have heard about lease options, but have avoided them simply because they’re unsure of how to set up workable exit strategies.

That’s where we’re headed in this lesson. I want to provide you with some tools and step-by-step instructions that are going to help you to really score with lease options.

Understanding Lease Options

To grasp what a lease option is, let’s look at the complete name: “Lease with the option to purchase.

What happens in this scenario is the property owner (or lessor) and the tenant (or lessee) agree that the tenant can enter into a rental period after which that tenant has the option to acquire financing and actually purchase the property. The tenant is not obligated to make the purchase, but the lessor can’t sell or rent the property to anyone else during the lease-option period.

When the option agreement is set up, both parties agree on price and the terms of when the option will be exercised.

The lessor and lessee must agree on the purchase price – which should be whatever is the appraised value at the time the option is exercised.

It works like this…

Let’s say you have a motivated seller who is willing to enter into a lease option agreement with you on his property. You then make the offer and agree on terms for the price.

Let’s say further, that you set up the option period to be for 2 years.

The seller’s mortgage amount is $500/month and he offers to lease it to you for $700/month.

In your research, you find that rental prices in the area are running about $900/month. This looks like a great opportunity for cash flow. Not only will you have monthly cash, but you’re buying this option at below market value – now you have a winner on your hands.

Because this seller is highly motivated to get rid of this property, he agrees to:

  • Purchase price of $80k
  • $700/month payments
  • $100 deposit
  • No payments for the first 60 days

exitAs you can see, this is a very simple agreement and it can be a great strategy for you to use in your business. This is how you get in – now how do you get out (i.e. your exit strategy)?

Wholesaling Lease Options

Now that you have your lease option agreement all set up and signed, you want to find the right end-buyer for the property. That end-buyer will now agree to enter into a lease-option agreement with you.

Let’s look at two different ways in which you can wholesale your lease option. There are several ways, obviously, but I want to show you my two favorites.

Strategy #1

You, as the investor, can take over a distressed property with a lease option and, if needed, make improvements. You then can turn around and sell your option agreement to another buyer who is willing to pay a higher price.

Here’s a simple example: You’ve located a property where the seller is willing to enter into a lease-option agreement with you. The property only needs about $10k worth of improvements.

You get busy and do your due diligence, running the comps, and learn that the property is valued at $150,000. You make your offer to the seller to purchase the property for $95,000.

In this example, the seller’s mortgage payments are $800/month. You negotiate with the seller for $1,000/month payments. You’ve also learned that rent in the area averages out at about $1,400 per month.

You now have a property that creates $400 monthly cash flow. Because properties in the area sell for about $150k, and your price is $95k, that means you wind up with $55,000 in equity.

rentHere’s the how…

Step 1: Sign a Rental Agreement with the seller. In that agreement, you will want to add the right to sublease – or assign your rights in the lease to another entity. Always make sure the rents in the area are higher than what you agree to pay the seller.

Step 2: Sign the Option Agreement. In the lease-option agreement, you will set the price at whatever the appraised value of the property is at the time the option is exercised. It’s best to set the term for at least 3 years. Also state that some of the lease payments will be credited toward the purchase.

Step 3: Record the Option at the courthouse.

Step 4: Find a buyer who is looking for a lease option (rent-to-own) type of deal. Make sure this is a qualified tenant-buyer who has a good down payment and a good chance to get a mortgage within the term of the lease-option agreement.

Step 5: You enter into an agreement to sublease the property to your end-buyer. This period could be as much as 5 to 10 years. This means your tenant/buyer has 5 to 10 years to buy the house. They will buy it at whatever the loan balance is at that time. (The seller now has a potential buyer in the house who is going to treat it like it's their own home because they have a homeowner's mindset.)

Step 6: You will collect a non-refundable down payment from your end-buyer.

Step 7: Collect the rent money from your end-buyer. You can use a title company and an attorney to close the deal.

Step 8: At the point when the buyer is in a position to exercise the option, a purchase and sale agreement is created, the deal is closed and you collect the remaining amount of money after paying off the seller.

Step 9: Release notice of option at the courthouse.

Step 10: End-Buyer takes over property.

See, once you see all the steps laid out, it makes complete sense how and why this is a smart strategy. Here’s another one…

Strategy #2

Strategy #2 is similar to #1 except for one point. Instead of you remaining in the deal, you assign (or sell) the lease option. You are then totally out of the picture and can move on to the next deal. Here are the steps – the first few will be the same as Strategy #1.

Step 1: Sign a Rental Agreement with the seller. In that agreement, you will want to add the right to sublease – or assign your rights in the lease to another entity.  Always make sure the rents in the area are higher than what you agree to pay the seller.

Step 2: Sign the Option Agreement. In the lease-option agreement, you will set the price at whatever the appraised value of the property is at the time the option is exercised. It’s best to set the term for at least 3 years. Also state that some of the lease payments will be credited toward the purchase.

leaseStep 3: Record the Option at the courthouse.

Step 4: Find a buyer who is looking for a lease option (rent-to-own) type of deal. Make sure this is a qualified tenant-buyer who has a good down payment and a good chance to get a mortgage within the term of the lease-option agreement.

During the time the rent is being paid, you can use a third-party escrow service. This service will collect rent and pay the mortgage; this way there’s no doubt that the mortgage is being paid.

Step 5: Here’s when the two strategies take a different route. You will sign a Purchase and Sale Agreement with the seller.

Step 6: That lease-option agreement is assigned to the end-buyer.

Step 7: You collect a non-refundable assignment fee.

Step 8: You release notice of option at the courthouse.

Step 9: End-Buyer takes over property and you are out of the deal completely.

Safer – Easier to Sell

Lease option deals are much less risky than, say, a subject to. It’s much more appealing to the seller – they’ll be more comfortable with the lease option and will feel protected.

When all is said and done, as you can now see, it's easier to get out of a lease option than it is a subject to.

Consider adding lease options as one of your investing strategies – just simply follow these steps above and you’ll be good to go.

Your Input Is Welcome

Have you done a lease option deal before? How did it work out for you? If this is a new concept, what did you think? Are you willing to give it a go? Share below.

 

Do It To It! Immediate Action Steps

Do research on the details of a lease-option transaction.

Understand the ins and outs and steps involved in a lease option – noting how simple it is.

Make sure your tenant-buyer is a good prospect – having the ability to qualify for the purchase.

Choose whether you will hold the option agreement or assign it and move on to the next deal. 
 

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