What are some legitimate rent-to-own programs?

The biggest rent-to-own companies right now are Divvy Homes, Home Partners of America, and Dream America. Each offers different services and rent-to-own terms. For example, Divvy Homes uses three-year rental terms before the tenant can buy the home, while Home Partners of America uses five-year terms. Before agreeing to rent and buy a home, do some homework on each company to find the one that best fits your needs.

Are rent-to-own websites legitimate?

Generally, yes. Websites like Rent-to-Own Labs and Homefinder allow you to easily search for RTO homes and contact sellers. These are not to be confused with rent-to-own companies like Divvy Homes, which works WITH you to rent and buy a home, as opposed to connecting you with a seller.

Steve Nicastro

Managing Editor

Steve Nicastro is a Managing Editor at Clever Real Estate, the nation's leading real estate education platform for home buyers, sellers, and investors. Prior to joining Clever, Steve helped buyers and sellers navigate a challenging real estate market in Charleston, S.C., closing $6 million in transaction volume for 2020 and 2021.

Over his career, Steve has bought and sold over 30 homes with a total value exceeding $8 million. This includes 20 homes as a realtor, 7 as an investor, and 3 as a primary homeowner and for sale by owner (FSBO) seller. Steve successfully used a local flat fee MLS service to get the FSBO properties marketed online, saving on commission costs.

Steve also worked as a personal finance writer for NerdWallet for over 6 years. His work has been published at USA Today, The Associated Press, U.S. News, and the New York Times, among other online publications.

Expertise: Real estate commission, selling a house without a realtor, buying a home, real estate investing.

Education: Quinnipiac University

Credentials: Full-time, licensed real estate agent in the Charleston, S.C. market from 2019-22. Active real estate investor in North and South Carolina.

External interviews and quotes:

Yahoo Finance: Discussing the NAR settlement
US News: What the $2 Billion NAR Lawsuit Means for Homebuyers and Sellers
Consumer Affairs: Zillow Launches 1% Down Mortgage
The Mortgage Reports: Is an Assumable Home Loan Right for You? Q&A

Find more from Steve:

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