Best Home Sale-Leaseback Companies

Under a leaseback agreement, you sell your home to an investor and then rent it back. This lets you generate income from your property without leaving it.

You could coordinate a leaseback agreement on your own, but working with a company specializing in these transactions can simplify the process. To that end, we’ve researched the best home sale-leaseback options available. Keep reading for our top picks.

Reviews of the 2 best companies that buy your house and rent back

In deciding which companies to recommend, we considered several factors. Which companies offer the most homeowner-friendly repurchase options? Which ones provide flexible, long-term leases? Which ones serve the widest geographic area?

All other features considered, local availability is one of the most important. Here’s a quick overview of each of the best home sale-leaseback companies’ city and state eligibility. You can click the company’s name to jump to our review.

• Best overall: Truehold
• Best home-repurchase option: EasyKnock

Truehold

Best overall

4.8 _/5

LendEDU Rating

Learn More

---

Why Truehold is one of the best

Truehold offers a single home sale-leaseback program for single-family homes, including resident perks you won’t find with other companies. From special discounts on meal deliveries and groceries to transportation and entertainment, Truehold makes it easier to afford the lifestyle you love.

Truehold also provides professional property management. It’ll handle major repairs so you don’t have to. If you decide you rather enjoy the convenience of being a Truehold tenant, you can extend your lease for as long as you’d like.

• Covers property taxes and HOA fees
• Covers essential repairs and property management
• Cash offers can be made within 48 hours
• Extend your lease for as long as you’d like
• Enjoy resident perks like discounted groceries
• Speak to a customer representative to discuss questions or home issues

• Charges a 5.5% to 6% commission for home sales
• Only available in select cities in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas

Application process

Truehold summarizes its application process in just three steps.

1. Receive an offer. Fill out an online form and receive a cash offer within 48 hours.
2. Complete the sale. Truehold will provide a standard home sale contract and coordinate a third-party home inspection. If everything looks good, you’ll receive the funds.
3. Move when you’re ready. Extend your lease as long as you’d like and pay rent until you’re ready to move out.

EasyKnock

Best home-repurchase option

4.7 _/5

LendEDU Rating

Learn More

---

Why EasyKnock is one of the best

EasyKnock offers homeowners two programs: Sell & Stay and MoveAbility. Under Sell & Stay, you sell your home to EasyKnock and remain a renter for up to five years. MoveAbility lets you live in the home for up to 12 months while you search for another property.

You’ll retain rights to your home’s appreciation no matter your chosen program. With Sell & Stay, however, you’ll retain the right to repurchase the home at any point during your lease, giving you more choices and greater flexibility.

• Option to repurchase the home
• Townhomes and certain condos are eligible
• Offers multiple programs customized to your needs
• May earn future home appreciation from the sale
• Check your eligibility without affecting your credit

• Usually takes 4 – 6 weeks to close
• Charges a processing fee of 4.99%

Application process

EasyKnock has three steps for enrolling in a program.

1. Get qualified. Fill out an online form that provides EasyKnock with information about you and your home, and it’ll match you with one of its two programs while providing an estimated cash offer. If you’d like to proceed, you’ll sign a non-binding Letter of Intent.
2. Sign, close, and get your cash. The closing process typically takes four to six weeks. Once the home sale is finalized, you’ll receive the agreed-upon cash amount and the lease begins.
3. Stay in the home. You’ll stay in the home as a tenant and pay rent during your lease. Depending on the program, you can repurchase the home or direct EasyKnock to sell it on the open market.

Pros and cons of sell-and-stay programs

Residential leaseback agreements can offer advantages and disadvantages, both of which are important to weigh when deciding whether it might be right for your needs. 

Here are the main pros and cons to know about home sale-leasebacks. 

Pros

• Leasebacks allow you to turn home equity into cash without taking on debt in the form of a home equity loan or HELOC.

• A leaseback option allows you to stay in the home and maintain your current lifestyle or prepare for a move.

• Leaseback companies can take responsibility for homeowners insurance, property taxes, maintenance, and HOA fees, removing those expenses from your budget.

• Closing and funding may be much faster than selling the home on the open market.

Cons

• Not all leaseback companies allow you to pocket the appreciation value when you sell the home on the open market.

• Similar to selling a home on the market, leaseback agreements may require you to pay closing costs or other fees.

• Depending on the housing market conditions in your area, your rent payments may be higher than your mortgage.

• Your rent could fluctuate from year to year, and you could face late fees or eviction if you can’t afford it.

• Because you rent rather than own, you’re no longer building equity through your monthly housing payments.

• Leaseback agreements aren’t as heavily regulated as home loans, resulting in fewer homeowner protections.

Alternatives to a home-sale leaseback 

Home sale-leasebacks aren’t the only way to withdraw equity. Other options you might consider include:

• Home equity loans allow you to withdraw your equity in one lump sum, which you repay monthly. You may be able to get more cash with a home equity loan than with a sale-leaseback, but home equity loan credit requirements are often stricter.
• Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) let you draw from your equity as needed and repay as you go. These can be a solid choice if you need an open-ended funding source, but you may need a lower loan-to-value ratio (LTV) than you would for a home sale-leaseback.
• Cash-out refinancing allows you to replace your current mortgage with a new one and pocket the difference in cash. These are best suited to homeowners who can qualify for a lower rate on the new mortgage, but a home sale-leaseback may be the better option if you don’t want to restart your mortgage term.
• Reverse mortgages: Reverse mortgages are designed for older homeowners who need supplemental cash but don’t want to sell. Reverse mortgage payments are deferred until the homeowner either moves out or passes away, but unlike with a sale-leaseback, your heirs may be responsible for coordinating repayment.

The main difference between these options and a home sale-leaseback is that they require you to take on debt. 

These alternatives also allow you to retain ownership of your home. With a home sale-leaseback, you must sign over your deed to the leaseback company.  

Reasons to choose a home-sale leaseback

A home sale-leaseback could be better if you’d rather avoid an extra debt payment or don’t qualify for a reverse mortgage. Here are specific scenarios where a leaseback agreement could make sense. 

If you…	A leaseback allows you to…
Want to downsize your home	Move at your own pace
Need money to cover medical bills	Convert your equity to cash
Have concerns about a market downturn	Sell your home for top dollar and still live in it
Need cash to pay for college	Cover expenses while staying in your home or downsizing

How to decide on a home sale-leaseback company

Finding the right home sale-leaseback company to work with can depend on your specific needs and situation. If you think a leaseback agreement could be right for you, researching your options is the next logical step. 

Here are important factors to consider when comparing home sale-leaseback companies:

• How are leaseback programs structured? Are they sell-and-rent agreements or sell-and-move-out?
• Do you have an option to buy the home back later? If so, what price would you pay? EasyKnock, for example, is the only company on our list that allows home repurchases. You’ll pay fees and closing costs for the privilege.
• How much home value does the company allow you to withdraw in cash? 
• How long could you stay in the home if entering into a sell-and-rent leaseback? And would you be able to extend the term? Truehold’s indefinite lease extensions are a rarity, so be clear on lease parameters before agreeing to a leaseback.
• What costs, if any, will you pay at closing? What ongoing costs are you responsible for, if any?
• How long does funding take? 
• Is there an option to prequalify or compare offers without committing to a leaseback agreement or affecting your credit score?
• Are there any minimum credit score, income, or DTI requirements you must meet?

Are home sale-leaseback companies trustworthy?

Extensive research and rigorous analysis are at the core of our selection process. You can be sure any company we recommend is well-vetted. 

Still, reading reviews of the best home sale-leaseback companies (including these) can be a smart way to supplement your research. Here’s how consumers rated Truehold and EasyKnock.

	BBB	Trustpilot	Google
Truehold	4.13/5 (47 reviews)	3.2/5 (1 review)	4.1/5 (124 reviews)
EasyKnock	3.7/5 (84 reviews)	4.5/5 (244 reviews)	N/A

Positive reviews speak to each company’s efficiency, reliability, and professionalism. Dissatisfied customers report concerns with appraisal results and higher-than-expected rent rates.

We should also mention that EasyKnock has faced legal action in several states, primarily stemming from what customers and states’ attorneys general deem a lack of transparency. This lack of transparency, they say, led to homeowners unwittingly losing the equity they built.

When deciding which company to work with, remember to trust your instincts. If a company seems scammy or attempts to dodge answering questions about the agreement, those are red flags. You may want to look elsewhere to sell your home. 

How to apply for a home sale-leaseback

Applying for a home sale-leaseback will vary by lender. If you’ve identified a lender you’d like to work with, the application process might look like this. 

1. Get prequalified if it’s an option. Leaseback companies may allow you to undergo an initial prequalification over the phone or online to see what program or terms you qualify for. That could be worth your time if you’d like to compare offers, but it’s important to note whether a hard credit check is required. 
2. Provide details about your home. The leaseback company may request information about your home, including your current mortgage balance, your home’s estimated value, and where it’s located. 
3. Apply. You may need to complete specific documents to apply for a home sale-leaseback. The leaseback company may also perform a hard credit check, but it needs to request your permission first. 
4. Accept the offer. Once the leaseback company reviews the information you provided about your home and finances, you’ll get an offer. If the terms are agreeable, you can accept it and move ahead with closing.
5. Get your cash and pay any necessary fees. The final step is signing off on the leaseback agreement. At this stage, you can get your cash. If you’re staying in the home, you’ll transition from owner to renter on the date of signing. 

The leaseback company may require an appraisal to determine the home’s value. You won’t always need a real estate agent, but you might consult with one if you have questions or want a second opinion on whether it’s the right move. Let the leaseback company know upfront if you’re working with an agent. 

FAQ

What is a leaseback?

A leaseback, or sell-and-stay program, is an arrangement in which a property owner sells their property and then rents it back from the buyer. Leasebacks allow the property owner to withdraw equity from their asset without vacating.

Residential sale-leasebacks involve owner-occupied homes, while commercial sale-leasebacks involve buildings used for business purposes. The leaseback process is the same, regardless of the property’s intended use.

What is a model or display sale-leaseback?

Model or display sale-leasebacks refer to homebuilders selling a finished home and then leasing it back. These homes are typically part of planned communities, each with a similar layout or design.

Unlike a traditional sale-leaseback, the builder doesn’t live in the home. Instead, they use it as a display to show prospective buyers of ongoing builds.

What does a good home sale-leaseback agreement look like?

What constitutes a good home sale-leaseback agreement may depend on your situation. However, your lease terms and proposed rent are preliminary indicators of whether you’re getting a fair shake.

Your lease length should be long enough to suit your current needs but flexible enough to accommodate you if those needs change. Rent should align with your home’s value and your local market. 

Your end-of-lease options are important, too. How will you benefit if the leaseback company sells the property? Can you repurchase the home yourself? How much would it cost? Consider exploring other offers if anything in your agreement seems too expensive, restrictive, or unclear.

How do I initiate a sale-leaseback on my home?

You can initiate a sale-leaseback with a reputable leaseback company or an independent buyer. Both options involve an assessment of your home’s value and then selling the home and signing a formal lease.

If you contract with a company, it will coordinate the process for you. If you go it alone, you’ll have more control over—and bear more responsibility for—the transaction.

In either case, you can enlist a real estate agent’s help. Partnering with an agent can make it easier to navigate the transaction and better ensure you’re getting a good deal.

How long does getting funds from a home sale-leaseback take?

The processing time for home sale-leaseback agreements can vary by company. A typical time frame is anywhere from 30 days to six weeks.

How we selected the best home sale-leaseback companies

Since 2020, LendEDU has evaluated financial institutions to help readers find the best home sale-leaseback programs. Our latest analysis reviewed 92 data points from 4 companies, with 23 data points collected from each. This information is gathered from company websites, online applications, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives.

These data points are organized into broader categories, which our editorial team weights and scores based on their relative importance to readers. These star ratings help us determine which companies are best for different situations. We don’t believe two companies can be the best for the same purpose, so we only show each best-for designation once.

Higher star ratings are ultimately awarded to companies that create an excellent experience for homeowners transitioning to renters. This includes offering online eligibility checks, competitive valuations, affordable lease agreements, and unique benefits.

Recap of the best companies that buy your house and let you live in it