Tired of throwing money away on rent? If credit challenges, unique income sources, or a past financial bump have kept you from getting a traditional mortgage, you’re in the right place. Our statewide program gives you a realistic, step-by-step path to move into your dream home today while you get ready to buy it.
Move into your new home immediately. While you live there as a tenant, your lease framework acts as a bridge, giving you the time you need to fully season your income or improve your credit profiles until you are ready to transition into a traditional mortgage.
Florida's Rent To Own Program with Easy Approval Options.
- Poor Credit OK (500+ must not have past due accounts)
- Two options for income: Latest 3 months of bank statements (50% of deposits)-OR- latest 2 years of W2 and latest paystub.
- Max 50% PTI (housing) / 60% DTI (total debt to income)
- Zelle deposits as income OK
- Not enough tradelines OK - BK, Foreclosure OK
- 6% Seller Concessions to pay closings cost OK
- Gift money OK (parents or siblings) OK
- FHA Appraisal Required, home inspection, 4 points, wind mitigation, termite inspection are required and septic tank (if applies).
- Sellers get their full funding at closing
- U.S. citizens, permanent residents (Green Card/SSN), and non-permanent residents with non-expired work permit, ITIN and DACA.
- Buyers Agents get your full commission !!!
Your Path to Homeownership
Step 1: know your Budget
Select the pre-qualification calculator based on the type of income you receive.
W2 & Tax Returns
For W2 Employees and Self-Employed with Tax Returns
Bank Deposits As Income
For Self-Employed that wants to use part of their latest 3 months of bank deposits as income.
Are you ready to start?
Continue with Steps 2 & 3
Step 2: Check Your Credit Score
Authorize, and pull your credit report. This is required to know your credit score and your monthly payments. Your income VS your monthly payments = Loan Amount.
Step 3: Apply
Complete the loan application

Proudly Serving Communities
Across the Sunshine State
Whether you are a first time home buyer in Florida looking for a suburban neighborhood or looking for a home close to the city, our Lease Purchase Florida network covers all major metropolitan markets:

Tampa Bay Area:
High-intent options for rent to own Tampa, rent to own St Petersburg, and rent to own Clearwater.

Central Florida:
Full program availability for rent to own Orlando and surrounding communities.

South Florida:
Premier properties for rent to own Miami and rent to own Fort Lauderdale.

North Florida:
Complete coverage for rent to own Jacksonville and the surrounding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really get approved as a bad credit home buyer in Florida?
Absolutely. Traditional lenders use rigid computer algorithms that auto-reject buyers with scores under 550, recent bankruptcies, or foreclosures. Our rent to own program Florida focuses on your present ability to afford the home and your future path to ownership. We specialize in helping buyers with low credit or sparse tradelines get into a home they love.
How do you verify income if I am self-employed or don't have standard W-2 tax returns?
We know that modern income looks different. If you have no traditional income papers, we happily accept bank statement deposits and even Zelle deposits as verifiable proof of your monthly revenue. If your business is making money, we want to help you buy a home.
How much down payment do I need to get started?
Our program is built to keep your initial out-of-pocket costs low. You only need 3.5% down plus your first month's rent to secure your path to homeownership. Plus, we allow gift funds from parents or siblings to cover your upfront amount, and we allow up to 6% seller concessions to help pay for future traditional closing costs.
My credit score is under 550. Am I automatically disqualified?
Not at all. Traditional mortgage companies use rigid automated filters that instantly delete applications with lower scores. Our Rent to Own Program in Florida is explicitly built for bad credit home buyers. We care about where your credit is going, not where it has been. We look at your current income stability and your down payment savings rather than a single three-digit number.
What if I have a past bankruptcy or foreclosure on my record?
You are completely welcome to apply. A past financial bump shouldn't lock your family into the rental cycle forever. If you have a completed bankruptcy or a past foreclosure, you do not need to wait the standard 3 to 7 years that traditional banks mandate. As long as your current income is solid and you meet our baseline down payment requirements, we can get you into a home today while your credit seasons.
I don't have enough credit tradelines. Can I still qualify?
Yes. If you have a "thin file" or not enough credit tradelines (like active car loans or credit cards), traditional banks will often hit a wall. We can look at alternative verification methods, such as a strong history of on-time rental payments, to establish your reliability and approve your program budget.
How much down payment do I need, and can it be a gift?
Our program keeps the barrier to entry incredibly low, requiring just 3.5% down plus your first month’s rent to get started. Best of all, we completely allow 100% gift funds from parents or siblings to cover your initial down payment. You don't have to wait years to scrape together a small fortune on your own if you have a supportive family network ready to help you transition into ownership.
What are seller concessions, and do you allow them?
Our program allows up to 6% in seller concessions to be negotiated directly into the purchase contract. This means the seller can credit money back to cover your future traditional closing costs, keeping your hard-earned cash right where it belongs—in your pocket.
Do I have to choose from a pre-selected list of homes?
No. This is one of the biggest advantages of our program. You are not stuck browsing a limited inventory of run-down, unwanted rental houses. You get 100% open-market freedom. Once we approve your program budget, you can work with us or your own favorite real estate agent to shop for any eligible single-family home or townhouse currently listed for sale in your desired Florida neighborhood. We step in, buy it for cash, and lease it back to you.
I am a Real Estate Agent—will I get paid if I bring you a buyer?
Yes, fully. We are an agent-friendly platform and value our broker relationships. When you bring a buyer through our program and help them locate a property on the open market, buyers agents receive their full commission at the initial closing when we purchase the property. Your relationship with your client is completely protected.
What types of properties are allowed?
• Single Family (Attached and Detached) • 2-Unit (Attached and Detached) • Planned Unit Development • Condominium (FHA approved only; spot approval ineligible) • Manufactured Home (Multi-Wide only) • Modular Home • Townhomes
Is this a HUD-approved program?
Yes! DreamBuilder is a unique Housing Empowerment Program in which a purchase transaction is facilitated by a HUD-approved non-profit government entity that allows prospective Homebuyers to enter a Structured Financing Agreement to ultimately transition to entering homeownership.
I don't have a Social Security Card but I have an ITIN...
Not a problem! Yes, we will need a copy of the letter with the ITIN from the IRS.
I am non-permanent alien with work permit, do I qualify?
Yes, be sure your work permit is not expired.
How long it takes the process?
Purchase Contract must allow 45 days, may be faster as long the borrower provides docs fast.
Will the title of the property be under my name?
This is a rent-to-own, for as long you want, even for 30 years and will not be need to refinance... then the title will be under your name. However, you can rent for as long you want, and as soon you want when you qualify for any other mortgage loan, then the title will be under your name. The nice feature about the rent-to-own is that you own the equity of the property. So, if you decide to purchase the property you have the equity as credit.
The property have Solar Panels
Solar panels are acceptable provided the solar panels are included in the price of the home and financed as part of the mortgage. Leased solar panels may be acceptable on a case-by-case basis only.
Does the property require a Home Warranty?
A Certified Home Warranty must be obtained when a home inspection has been completed. This warranty is required for all properties where full inspections are performed.
Do I need Home Inspections?
Inspections must be performed by a licensed home inspector prior to closing. Inspection requirements include: • All health and safety items must be addressed and/or repaired, as required by the inspection • All major systems must be inspected, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, appliances, siding, major fixtures, and flooring • Roof inspection (with a useful life expectancy of at least 10 years) • Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide systems must be tested and certified as operable per local building and health/safety codes • Septic systems must have separate septic inspections performed, and they must be pumped and inspected along with the drain field • If electrical tests are not performed, it must be confirmed that power meters are functioning and are not bypassed.
Roof Expectancy Life Required
Roof inspection (with a useful life expectancy of at least 10 years)
What is the Maximum Loan Amount?
This varies by county - please check: https://tinyurl.com/mtk6axb2
Why do I need to pull a credit report?
The credit report must be pull in this link: https://credit.sarmamortgage.com/smartpay/SmartPay.aspx?uid=9db5d8ae-080c-449f-ba12-e1828665a53f#forward This is connected to our underwriting system that allows the loan approvals. We look at: Credit Score Late Payments Minimum Monthly Payments The minimum monthly payments is your monthly payment like credit cards, car payment, study loans, loans. We use this total of minimum monthly payments and compare to your income, based on that the system calculates the mortgage loan amount for pre-approval.
Underwriting Guidelines Matrix
https://tinyurl.com/y22s2y98
What type of Appraisal is required?
The program requires an FHA 1004 appraisal report.
The title can be any company?
Yes, as long their underwriting behind the title company, is one of this list. https://tinyurl.com/kxt6ymec
Can I assume the FHA loan?
YES! The advantages of assuming a loan include lower closing costs, a streamlined process, and the Homebuyer receiving the existing, remaining amortization period (i.e. the loan is not recast). In addition, the Homebuyer’s monthly payment will go down to the actual FHA payment (i.e. the monthly program servicing fee will no longer be applicable), but the Homebuyer will pick up a second mortgage payment if the payoff difference is financed with a second mortgage. The Homebuyer will also be able to streamline the loan as any FHA borrower can, assuming interest rates permit. FHA loans require a qualified assumption, so until an EEP borrower has, at the bare minimum, a valid US work permit they will be ineligible to assume an FHA loan with only an ITIN. Once qualified for the assumption, the Homebuyer will pay the FHA assumption fee (currently capped at $1,800) and any other third-party costs (title insurance, recordation, etc). There will be a payoff difference between the FHA 30-year amortized loan and the financing agreement's 40-year amortization; this amount can either be paid in cash or a second mortgage can be issued by TRHEEA for the balance owed. Note: If the Homebuyer selects a second mortgage to cover the payoff difference between the FHA 30-year amortized loan and the financing agreement’s 40-year amortization, the second mortgage will require monthly payments, be amortized over ten (10) years, and have an interest rate equal to the first mortgage note rate.
