FAQ’s

What is the Lease with a Right to Purchase Program? Lease with a Right to Purchase Program (the “RTP Program”) allows you to find a home that you want to rent from us initially. At any time during your lease you may exercise your right to purchase. We believe that there are many households who may be thinking about buying a home but for whatever reason would like to rent at the current time.

You can lease the home for up to five years, and you may purchase the home from us at any time at a predetermined price in accordance with the Right to Purchase agreement. If you decide not to purchase there is no penalty and you may lease the home for up to 5 years.

Who is eligible for the RTP Program? We have certain minimum criteria for our program. Your household must have an annual income of $80,000+. Minimum TransUnion score of 580. You must have stable employment. We cannot accept you into our program if you or anyone in your household has a history of eviction in the last 3 years or a pending bankruptcy (discharged chapter 7 ok - chapter 13 payment schedule with more documentation required). Everyone in your household will be subject to a criminal background check. No felonies in the last 7 years (violent crimes, sexual offenses, or drug distribution).

How do I apply to the RTP Program? Every member of your household who is 18 years of age or older must complete the Pre-Qualification Application and the Full Application. The Full Application requires certain information, including residence and employment history, for each member of the household. You also must provide income verification for each member of the household whose income is to be considered in determining the rent approval amount in order for your application to be considered complete.If you are moving from a different state or starting a new job, we will need confirmation of your new job and income.We take several factors into consideration when reviewing an application, which include household income, rent-to-income and debt-to-income ratios, rental and housing history, employment history, criminal history, and FICO® scores.We will usually make a decision on your application within 1 to 3 business days of receiving all required information.

How much does it cost to participate in the RTP Program? A one-time Application Fee of $75 per household that must be paid online as part of the application process. This Application Fee covers all applicants in the household and is nonrefundable.

Why might my application be denied? Several factors are taken into consideration when reviewing an application, which include household income, rent-to-income, and debt-to-income ratio, rental and housing history, employment history, criminal history, and FICO® score. We consider the profile of the entire household when reviewing an application. If your application is denied, you will receive notification in writing.

How do I find a home once I’m approved? You should work with your REALTOR® to search for homes that meet our purchasing criteria. Generally, this means that the home should be:

1.  Located in an approved community

2.  Listed for $650,000 or less;

3.  Located on a lot no more than two acres with a minimum of two bedrooms;

4.  A single family home or fee-simple townhome; condo associations, condo interests, commercial and multi-family properties are not eligible for the RTP Program;

5.  A traditional sale. Short sales, auctions, and REOs are not eligible for the RTP Program;

6.  Free from material deficiencies;

7.  No guest houses/ in-law suits with separate entrances

8. See the Comprehensive Property Guide for more information

Please note we only purchase homes with swimming pools or other water features in certain states. At the current time, we purchase homes with pools only in Florida, Georgia, Texas and Southern California.

Once you have selected a home, the REALTOR® must submit it to us online.

Do you own the homes shown on your website? NO. The homes shown on our website are listed for sale in the markets in which we operate. This list of homes automatically feeds into our website from a listing service and is updated on a regular basis. However, we cannot filter for certain criteria such as whether a townhome is or is not fee-simple so there is a possibility that a home shown on our website does not meet our minimum eligibility criteria. The information on available homes shown on our website is for informational purposes only and cannot be guaranteed by Home Partners.

 Is there a required deposit? Yes. Generally, we require a deposit equal to two months’ rent. This deposit is not applied towards your rent. If you decide to leave the home at the end of any one-year lease term and you have been in compliance with the terms of the lease and return the home in the same condition it was in when you moved in (normal wear and tear excepted), the full deposit will be returned to you or credited to the purchase price if you buy the home. The full deposit (less any outstanding charges owed to Home Partners) is also returned to you if you exercise your Right to Purchase the home.

 How long does it take from when I select a home to when I move in? On average, it takes approximately five to six weeks from the time we enter into a purchase agreement for a home until the day you are able to move in. There are a number of variables that may affect the move-in timeframe, including the length of negotiation with the seller leading up to when we enter into a purchase agreement, what the home inspection reveals with respect to required repairs, and the renovations you request. We will keep you informed throughout the entire purchase and renovation process so  that you are aware of this timing.

What happens after I move in? You are  tenant. You have entered into a lease with  for one year and are bound to the terms of that agreement.

Are the monthly rent payments that I make applied to the purchase price of the home? NO. Monthly rent payments are not applied to the purchase price of the home. If you decide to exercise your Right to Purchase, you must pay the full predetermined price as set forth in the Right to Purchase Agreement.

How do I exercise my Right to Purchase? You may notify us at any time that that you would like to exercise your Right to Purchase. However, you must provide us with that notice in writing at least 60 days before you want to complete the purchase. Once you notify us that you want to exercise your Right to Purchase, we will contact you to get the process started.

Can I buy a home in the middle of a lease term or do I have to wait until the end of the year? YES. You can exercise your Right to Purchase at any time during your Lease. However, you must provide us with written notice of your intent to exercise at least 60 days before you want the sale to close. In addition, the closing date must occur before the end of the applicable Lease term.

Do you provide me with a mortgage or other financing? We are not a mortgage company and we will not provide or arrange a mortgage loan for you. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to obtain a mortgage loan if and when you wish to exercise the Right to Purchase. You can choose your own financing through the bank/credit union/mortgage company of your choice.

Can I have pets in my home?
We allow up to 3 pets (cats or dogs) weighing less than 180 pounds in total combined weight. We allow all dog breeds, however, certain dog breeds may be restricted by local regulations and Homeowner’s Association rules. Livestock/farm animal pets such as pigs, horses, chickens and goats, aquariums over 20 gallons, and exotic, venomous and verminous pets, are not allowed. There is a $300 non-refundable per pet fee, and $30 per pet per month pet rent (with the exception of the city of Seattle) only refundable upon purchase of the home. Please note that although assistance animals are excluded from Home Partners’ pet policy requirements, supporting documentation is required to qualify as such. Emotional support animals with proper documentation are excluded from pet deposit and rent.