rent to own

I agree with oldbuddy. Usually if you rent to own, the owner/seller only credits part of your payment toward the purchase price and the rest is just considered as rent. My son was lucky since he got his house with no down payment and makes payments under a contract to the owner. Be sure you can record your contract in the county records to prove that you're buying the home or put it in a very safe place so it won't be destroyed. And check out the owner to be sure he has the right to enter into a contract on that property. There are scam artists out there that will try to sell you someone else's home.