Sell now, move later
Sell your house now and move when it makes sense.
A leaseback means the sale closes and you get your equity, but you do not have to be out on closing day. You stay as a tenant for an agreed period and move when the time is right.
The problem it solves
Unlocks equity at closing while staying in your home for a short or longer transition period.
You get certainty of the sale while maintaining flexibility. You can use your equity to pay bills or start a business. You simply get the convenience of not having to move twice. It is a win-win.
The money arrives when the sale closes. The move happens when you are ready.
Worth considering if
- You have children in school and do not want to move mid-year
- You need the equity now to qualify for or close on the next house
- You are building or waiting on a home that is not ready
- You are relocating and the start date has not landed yet
- Moving twice would cost you more than the rent would
How it works
Two agreements, signed at the same time.
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We agree to the sale
I walk the property and price it, same as any other path. Nothing about a leaseback changes how the offer is worked out.
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We agree to the stay
Alongside the purchase agreement, we write a lease covering how long you stay, what you pay, and who handles what while you are there. You see both documents together, before either is signed.
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We close, later you move
The sale closes and the proceeds are yours. You stay in the house through the agreed period, then you move on the agreed upon date.
Being straight with you
What a leaseback costs you.
You are a tenant after closing, so there is rent. A leaseback is not free time in the house, and anyone who implies otherwise is not being straight with you.
The rent, the length of the stay, the deposit, and who is responsible for repairs during the period are all set case by case and written down before you sign. They depend on the property and how long you need.
If the numbers do not work out better for you than simply moving once, I will tell you that.
Who actually manages the tenancy
Usually me. I have been doing leasebacks for years and I manage the rental period myself when that makes sense for the property, which means the lease, the payments and any repair request go to the person who already knows the house and your situation. Where a property is better served by a management company, I say so up front.
When it is the wrong answer
If you have somewhere to go on closing day and no reason to stay, a leaseback just adds rent and a second contract to your life. Take the straight sale.
Questions sellers ask
Answered plainly.
How long can I stay?
It is agreed up front rather than fixed by policy. Short transitions of a few weeks are normal, and so are long ones. The most recent leaseback I did ran three years. A year or longer is not unusual and not a problem. Tell me the date you actually need and we will work back from it.
Do I get less money because I am staying?
The sale price and the lease are worked out as two separate things, and you see both before you commit to either. If the combination leaves you worse off than a straight sale, that will be obvious from the numbers, and I will point it out.
What if my plans change and I need longer?
Talk to me early rather than late. Extensions are a conversation, not a guarantee, and they are far easier to arrange before the end date than after it.
Who fixes things while I am renting?
Written into the lease before you sign, so there is no argument about it later. It varies with the property and the length of the stay.
Tell me the date you need, not the date the calendar gives you.
Send me the address and I will price the sale and the stay together.