HomeBlogPersonal FinanceHow to Sell a House Rent to Own in Affton, MO Share on Like what you see? Share with a friend. How to Sell a House Rent to Own in Affton, MO Chris Kirshenboim | December 9, 2020 Last updated August 9, 2026 When you sell a house rent to own, you are agreeing to two deals at once: a lease now and a sale later. Two forms show up in Missouri. A lease with an option to purchase gives the tenant the right to buy at an agreed price, and they can walk away at the end. A lease-purchase obligates them to buy, though enforcing that against someone who cannot qualify for a mortgage is rarely worth the legal bill. Either way, a rent to own home sale means you still own the house through the option period. You still hold the deed, the mortgage, and usually the tax and insurance bill, and the roof is still your problem unless the contract clearly says otherwise. The upside is real: a higher end price, an option fee up front, and monthly rent from someone who treats the place as theirs. The risk is also real. Most option periods end without a purchase, and you get the house back after two or three years of wear, with a tenant who may not leave quietly. Have an attorney write it, not a template. And if what you actually want is to be done with the property, that is a different route. Chris and the team buy Affton houses as-is, rated 4.9 across 368 Google reviews, BBB A+ accredited, with an office in Webster Groves. Start with how we buy houses. If the fit is right, you can sell your house in St. Louis on a closing date you pick rather than one a tenant decides for you. Negotiations In Affton, MO When selling your house via rent to own in Affton, MO, you can expect to negotiate the terms of the contract in your favor. You can have the buyer maintain the property and make the repairs to the property, except for some repairs; make sure to research your local laws. You can negotiate the rental length, the amount of extra money added to rent towards the deposit, and how much the option fee will be. Different MO Market You will have a much broader market when selling your home via rent to own in Affton, MO. You will have plenty of homebuyers in Missouri to choose from since a lot of people are interested in “trying before buying.” This gives the potential buyer the option to purchase the property after living in it for a few years, which is great news to them! They will have the chance to fall in love with it or decide maybe it isn’t the best house for their family before committing to homeownership. If they decide not to purchase it, you can turn around and list it as a rent to own home again! Higher Sales Price In Affton When selling your house via rent to own in Affton, MO, you can expect to have a higher purchase price locked in if the renter does decide to purchase the property. The buyer will be willing to pay more cash for houses in Affton to have this great opportunity. Also, the locked-in purchase price can be a great sigh of relief, especially if the market does not appreciate as much as you were hoping since you negotiated the purchase price. Additional Fees In Affton, Missouri When you sell your home via rent to own in Affton, MO, you are expected to place an option fee on the rent to own contract. This allows the renter to choose to purchase the property or not at the end of their rental term, which is typically 3 years. This option fee is non-refundable, even if they do not choose to purchase the house. Also, there is usually an additional amount added to each month’s rent to go towards a deposit on the property, and in a lot of cases, this amount is also non-refundable. Monthly Payments In Missouri If you don’t need to sell your home right away, you can expect to have a monthly income for at least 2 years, usually 3 years when selling your house via rent to own in Affton, MO. This can help to pay your own mortgage or add the extra funds to your investment pool for additional investments. You could also save that money for a different large purchase or create a savings account for something special. Sell My House In Affton, MO Selling via rent to own in Affton can be very beneficial to homeowners looking for a way to quickly make money off of a property they own. Sell your house in St. Louis directly to Chris Buys Homes in St. Louis. We can help you understand the risks and the reward so you can make the selling decision that is right for you! Call Chris Buys Homes in St. Louis At (314) 334-1481 Or Send Us A Message To Discuss What To Expect When Selling Your House Via Rent To Own In Affton, MO FAQs Frequently Asked Questions Who pays for repairs during a rent to own period in Missouri? + Whatever the contract says, and if it says nothing, the owner does. Many agreements push minor repairs to the tenant and keep roof, foundation, and mechanical systems with the seller, so spell out the split. What happens if the tenant never buys the house? + You keep the option fee and the rent collected, and the property comes back to you. Plan for that outcome, because most option periods end without the tenant qualifying for financing. Can I do a rent to own deal if I still owe on the mortgage? + Usually yes during the lease term, since the deed does not transfer until the purchase. Read your loan documents first, because some lenders treat a recorded option as a triggering transfer. Is the option fee refundable if the deal falls through? + It is normally non-refundable and credited toward the price only if the tenant closes. Say so in writing, along with how much of each monthly payment counts toward the purchase.