"I share the company information with everyone I know who is looking for a home. When we met Harriet and Stu we were down on our luck. Harriet made finding a home possible"
TLDR: See Homes & Apply Now
Program Basics:
Great news! Our program is here to help renters like you become proud homeowners, even if you don't qualify for bank financing. We believe in making dreams come true!
Here's how it works: Our affordable rents range from about $1,100 to $1,600 per month, depending on the size and location of the home you choose. To get started, we typically ask for an option fee of $4,000. The best part is, we don't require a super-clean credit history or a specific credit score. What matters most to us is that your household income is at least three and a half times the rent.
If you're worried about your job or address history being too short, don't fret! We have a special "starter program" designed just for you. It allows you to build up your rental history while preparing to join our full program.
Here's the exciting part: You have the freedom to exercise your purchase option at any time during your lease. Yes, that means you can become a homeowner whenever you're ready! Your lease automatically renews for up to 20 years, providing you with long-term stability.
But wait, there's more! If you qualify for bank financing before the 20-year mark, you can buy us out without any penalties. We want you to have the flexibility to choose the best path for your future.
Ready to take the first step towards homeownership? Click here to apply and start your exciting journey. We can't wait to help you make your dreams come true!"
Here's how to get started:
Step 1 - learn about our program You've already completed this step by reading the information above! Good job!
Step 2 - Let's think about two important things together, our "rules of thumb":
The first rule of thumb is to consider if you can qualify for bank financing within the next 1-2 years. If you can, it might be best for you to explore buying a home the traditional way. We can even connect you with local credit unions that love helping first-time homebuyers!
The second rule of thumb is to think about how long you plan to live in the home. If you're planning to stay for at least 5 years, our long-term lease program would be a perfect fit. If not, you might want to consider our short-term lease program. Either way, you can start the application process right here.
Step 3 - Visit our currently available homes page, and begin your application there. We usually buy homes that are empty or need some fixing up, and we make sure to renovate them before you move in. Your new home will be all ready for you!
Step 4 -After you complete your application, take a tour of the homes that fit your budget. Once you find the perfect home, we'll run a background check on all the adults who will live there. If you don't find a home you love, just let us know, we won't need everyone else to fill out an application. And if you provide us with a complete and official background check that's less than 30 days old, you won't need to pay the background check fee at all (we'll still run our own though). We care more about your life today than your past, but we still need to get to know each other!
Step 5 - It's time to sign the papers! You can find lots more details on our Program page. Basically, once you pay an option fee and the first month's rent, you can move in and call it your home! If you need to build up your rental or job history, we can start with a rental-only arrangement and upgrade you to our full program in a year or less. Welcome home! We're so excited to have you with us!
"Our advice is to go through you guys....Everyone says it is a lot of money each month, but it isn’t - it’s your rent, and your taxes. You have to pay your gas and electric and water. We were paying $950 a month for rent, and now we pay $1,200 but it’s better in the long run. And now the kids have their own rooms. It’s the first time I’ve lived in a house since I was 3."
American Capital RE, LLC
Elmira's rent-to-own specialist.
Why rent when you can buy? Low upfront payments, monthly rents for a wide range of budgets.
"The process has been smooth and Harriet has been here the whole way."
Our office is at the corner of Hoffman and Water - look for the striped awning
We are open M-F 9:30am-5:30pm or by appointment including most Saturdays, come knock on the side door on Hoffman to enter
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