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Home Equity Home Sale-Leasebacks

Best Home Sale-Leaseback Companies

Leaseback agreements allow homeowners to tap into their equity without taking out a home equity loan or line of credit (HELOC). A residential leaseback agreement involves selling and leasing the home from the new owner. 

Home sale-leaseback companies can help homeowners interested in selling establish this arrangement. We’ve researched the best home sale-leaseback options based on user experience, resident perks, and lease details.

CompanyGeographical coverageOur rating
TrueholdA few cities in Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania4.8 stars
EasyKnockA few cities in most U.S. states4.7 stars
Sell2RentNationwide3.8 stars

Reviews of the 3 best home sale-leaseback companies

Here’s a deep dive into our picks for the best home sale-leaseback companies. Consider state and city eligibility before moving forward with one of the companies below.

Best overall: Truehold

Editorial rating: 4.8 out of 5

  • Receive a cash offer within 48 hours
  • Extend your lease for as long as you’d like
  • Resident perks including discounted groceries
  • Available in a few cities in Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania

Truehold offers a single home sale-leaseback program for single-family homes that includes benefits like resident perks and the ability to stay in the home while paying rent for as long as you’d like.

Resident perks include special discounts on meal deliveries, groceries, transportation, and entertainment. Truehold offers professional property management, so you don’t have to worry about handling major repairs.

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 home sale contract and coordinate a 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.

Best home repurchase option: EasyKnock

Editorial rating: 4.7 out of 5

  • Option to repurchase the home
  • Townhomes and certain condos are eligible
  • Receive applicable home value appreciation

EasyKnock offers homeowners two programs to choose from. The Sell & Stay program allows you to sell your home to EasyKnock and remain in the property as a renter for a 12-month term. The MoveAbility program also offers a 12-month lease agreement but no renewal option. This leaseback type is designed for homeowners who want to rent while looking for another property to buy.

The Sell & Stay program lets you choose to repurchase the home for the agreed-upon buyout cost.

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.

Best for selling to investors: Sell2Rent

Editorial rating: 3.7 out of 5

  • Potential to receive multiple competing offers
  • Available nationwide

Sell2Rent is a technology company where many investors compete for your business. It gives homeowners two options for tapping into their equity. The Sell & Leaseback program allows you to draw cash from your home based on its fair market value and remain a renter. With Sell and Move Out, you can get matched with a buyer, collect your equity cash at closing, and move out of the home.

The leaseback program allows you to remain in the home for one year, with the option to negotiate a longer contract. While in the home, you don’t have to worry about maintenance or paying other costs, such as HOA fees, property taxes, or homeowners insurance.

Home values are determined by investors who purchase homes through Sell2Rent. Values are based on the home’s condition, comparable homes in the area, and the overall condition of the market to ensure you get the most cash possible.

Sell2Rent outlines a four-step process for enrolling in one of its programs.

  1. Share details about your home. You’ll fill out an online form and speak to an agent.
  2. Get matched with investors. If your home is eligible, you’ll be matched with investors nationwide.
  3. Compare cash offers and rental terms. Once matched, review all of your offers and choose your best option.
  4. Close on the agreement. Get the agreed-upon cash, sign a lease agreement, and continue in your home as a tenant paying rent.

How we chose the best home sale-leaseback companies

LendEDU has evaluated lenders since 2020 to help our readers find the best home sale-leasebacks. Our most recent evaluation consisted of four companies and 21 data points for each.

These data points fell under nine categories: eligibility requirements, transparency, lease terms, purchase price, fees, customer experience, company history, benefits, and closing time.

Pros and cons of home sale-leasebacks

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 can allow you to stay in the home so you can 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 compared to selling the home on the open market. 

Cons

  • Some leaseback companies allow you to pocket appreciation value when the home is sold on the open market, but not all allow this.

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

  • Depending on the conditions of the housing market in your area, your rent payments may be the same as your mortgage or even higher, negating savings. 

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

Is a home sale-leaseback my best option?

Home sale-leasebacks are not the only way to withdraw equity. There are other options you might consider, including:

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

With a home equity loan, you borrow a lump sum in the form of a second mortgage you must repay with interest. A HELOC is a flexible revolving credit line. Cash-out refinancing replaces your current mortgage with a new one. All three are secured by your home. 

Reverse mortgages, meanwhile, are designed for older homeowners who have paid off most or all of their mortgage debt. This type of arrangement can provide you with steady income for retirement, but there’s a catch: Your heirs may need to sell the home when you pass away to repay reverse mortgage debt. 

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

If youA leaseback could allow you to
Want to downsize your homeTake your time to select the right property and get organized for a move at your own pace.
Need money to cover medical billsConvert your equity to cash to pay for health care while potentially lowering your housing costs.
Are worried about a housing market downturnSell your home for top dollar while continuing to enjoy the benefits of living in it.
Need cash to pay for collegeCover higher education expenses while your kids get started in school with the option to stay in the home or downsize once they leave the nest. 
Would like to create an additional stream of income for retirementWithdraw your equity and continue building wealth without the need for a reverse mortgage. 

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 some of the key 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?
  • How much home value does the company allow you to withdraw in cash? 
  • If entering into a sell-and-rent leaseback, how long could you stay in the home? And would you be able to extend the term? 
  • 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?

Reading reviews of the best home sale-leaseback companies (including this one) can be a smart way to supplement your research. You can also check consumer reviews online to see what customers say about individual companies. 

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

The process of 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 something like this. 

  1. Get prequalified, if it’s an option. Leaseback companies may give you the option to go through an initial prequalification, either over the phone or online, to see what program or terms you may 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. Submit the application. You may need to fill out 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, you might consult with one if you have questions or want a second opinion on whether it’s the right move. If you’re working with an agent, let the leaseback company know upfront. 

FAQ

What is a leaseback?

A leaseback is an arrangement in which a homeowner sells their hom and then rents it back from the buyer. Leasebacks allow the homeowner to pull equity out of the home in cash without having to move out of the property. 

What does a residential leaseback agreement look like?

A residential leaseback agreement doesn’t look much different from any other type of rental agreement. Your agreement will specify how long you’re renting the home for, what you’ll pay in rent, and when rent payments are due. However, additional stipulations could apply that lay out resident perks, renter responsibilities, and buyback options, if applicable.

How do I initiate a sale leaseback on my home?

You can do a sale leaseback on your home by working with a reputable leaseback company. The leaseback company can evaluate the home to give you an idea of how much cash you can get and work with you to draft a rental agreement. You can work with a real estate agent during this process, but it’s not a requirement. 

How does a home sale-leaseback differ from a reverse mortgage?

Home sale-leaseback agreements allow you to sell your home for cash but remain in the home. Reverse mortgages are designed for older homeowners who need supplemental cash for retirement but don’t want to sell the property. Once the homeowner passes away, the reverse mortgage debt becomes payable in full. 

How long does it take to get funds from a home sale-leaseback?

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 does a home sale-leaseback compare to a home equity loan or line of credit?

A home sale-leaseback allows you to sell your home for cash and rent it from the buyer without creating debt. Home equity loans and HELOCs allow you to maintain ownership of the home and borrow against your equity. The loan or HELOC is secured by the home, and you must repay them with interest.

Recap of the best home sale-leaseback companies

CompanyGeographical coverageOur rating
TrueholdA few cities in Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania4.8 stars
EasyKnockA few cities in most U.S. states4.7 stars
Sell2RentNationwide3.8 stars