Blog: Expert Tips on Purchasing a Home

Lease to Own vs. Renting: What Actually Changes?

Tamera Nielsen May 7, 2026

If you’re comparing lease to own versus renting right now, you’re asking a very practical, very reasonable question: What actually changes? After all, in both situations you’re making a monthly housing payment. You’re living in a home you don’t yet own. And from the outside, lease to own can look a lot like renting with a little extra paperwork. Renting gives you a place to live. A financially-sound lease to own program gives you a documented pathway to homeownership. What Renting Actually Gives You There’s nothing wrong with renting. For the right season of life, it’s a perfectly reasonable choice. A traditional rental gives you a place to live during a defined lease term — and that has value. But

What Happens If I Don’t Buy the Home in a Lease to Own Program?

Tamera Nielsen April 30, 2026

This is one of the best questions you can ask. And you should ask it before you sign anything Lease to Own Agreement. So many families are afraid to raise this question. They worry that asking “what if I don’t buy” makes them sound uncommitted, or that it might cause an advisor to pull the opportunity off the table. Others assume they’ll figure it out later. And some have heard old rent-to-own horror stories and quietly brace for the worst. But here’s what we believe at Burson Home Advisors: if an advisor can’t answer this question clearly and in writing, that’s your sign to walk away. Not from homeownership — from that program. A lease to own homeownership agreement that

Is Lease to Own a Good Idea If I Might Move in a Few Years?

Tamera Nielsen April 21, 2026

That is one of the most thoughtful questions a family can ask before stepping into a lease to own home — and the fact that you’re asking it tells us something important about you. You’re not just looking for a house. You’re looking for the right answer for your family. Lease to own is not automatically right just because you want a home. It has to fit your timeline, your goals, and the reality of your life right now. But here’s what most people don’t realize: the possibility of moving in a few years does not automatically rule it out. What matters far more is whether the agreement was designed with your real life in mind — from the very

What Happens at the End of a Lease to Own Term?

Tamera Nielsen April 14, 2026

This is one of the most common questions families ask when they begin exploring lease to own homeownership: What actually happens at the end of a lease to own term? It’s a smart question—because the answer matters. Too many people hear “lease to own” and assume every program works the same way. They don’t. Some programs have a one-year term. Some run three to five years. Others allow the resident to purchase at any point within a broader time frame. And in some cases, like Burson Home Advisors’ in-house lease to own program, the term is tailored to the family’s actual situation from the beginning—based on lifestyle, credit profile, debt-to-income ratios, purchasing power, and long-term homeownership goals. That’s why the

What Is the Difference Between Lease to Own and Rent to Own?

Tamera Nielsen April 7, 2026

If you’ve been researching ways to buy a home without jumping straight into a traditional mortgage, you’ve probably seen both of these phrases: lease to own and rent to own At first glance, they sound interchangeable. A lot of people use them that way. Even online articles and AI answers often blur the two together. But that’s part of the problem. Because when people hear “rent to own,” they often think of old stories about vague contracts, inflated promises, or deals that left families disappointed. Those stories are real—and they’ve created understandable skepticism. So what’s the difference? The clear answer is this: Sometimes the two phrases are used loosely to describe the same general idea. But in practice, modern lease

I Need Help With Lease to Own: Where Do I Start?

Tamera Nielsen March 31, 2026

If you’ve found yourself typing “help with lease to own” into Google or ChatGPT, you’re not alone. We hear it at least twice a week. In fact, that’s one of the clearest signs that families are no longer just curious about lease to own—they’re actively looking for guidance. They’ve heard bits and pieces. They may have seen a home online. They may have been told “no” by a real estate agent or financial advisor. And now they’re trying to figure out what lease to own actually means, whether it’s legitimate, and where to begin without making an expensive mistake. That’s a smart instinct. Because lease to own is not something you want to piece together from random headlines, old Reddit

Triangle Home Search Success Story | Burson Home Advisors

Tamera Nielsen March 25, 2026

Some home searches are all about speed. Others are about discernment. Lou and Sherri’s journey with Burson Home Advisors was both. When we first met them on a Google Meet on Christmas Eve of 2025, it felt like instant connection—a success story in the making. There was warmth, ease, and that rare sense that everyone at the virtual table already understood one another. They were thoughtful, grounded, and clear on what mattered most. They had relocated to the Triangle a few years earlier to be near extended family and had rented while they figured out where they truly wanted to put down roots. Now, they were ready to buy their forever home. This was not just about square footage or

Do I Need an Agent for a Lease to Own Home?

Tamera Nielsen March 24, 2026

If you’ve found a lease to own home online, you may be wondering: “Do I really need an agent for this, or can I just work directly with whoever is offering the lease to own program online?” It’s a fair question—especially if you’ve read stories about lease to own deals that went sideways. The short answer is: You’re not required to have an agent, but having a licensed professional whose job is to protect you can make a significant difference. Let’s walk through what that means. Who’s actually at the table in a lease to own deal? In a typical lease to own or lease purchase situation, there are several players: Now the key question: Who at that table is

How Much of My Rent Goes Toward a Lease to Own Home?

Tamera Nielsen March 17, 2026

If you’re looking at lease to own homes, you’ve probably heard some version of this promise: “Part of your rent goes toward buying the home.” It sounds reassuring—especially if you’ve been renting for years and feel like you’re getting nowhere. But what does that actually mean? And how much of your rent really goes toward owning a lease to own home? The honest answer is simple: Traditional rent does not build ownership. Any benefits you receive in a lease to own agreement come from how the agreement itself is structured—not from regular rent magically turning into a down payment. Let’s break down what you’re actually paying for, what can create value, and what to watch for before you sign anything.

Can You Get Lease to Own With Bad Credit?

Tamera Nielsen March 10, 2026

If you’ve been turned down by a lender, or you’re afraid your credit history will shut the door on homeownership, it’s natural to look at lease to own as a possible way through. Sooner or later, the question surfaces: Can you get lease to own with bad credit? The honest answer is: sometimes yes, sometimes no—because there is no single rule. Approval depends on the specific lease to own program, how the agreement is structured, and whether your overall financial picture makes sense for the home you’re choosing. Let’s unpack what that really means, in plain language. “Bad credit” isn’t a single number Most people use “bad credit” as a catch-all for: Traditional mortgage lending treats many of those as

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