We split on this one, which tells you the answer depends on your situation. Jeb is skeptical as a rule. The typical structure has you paying rent set well above market, with the excess credited toward a future down payment, and if you never buy, that extra money is usually forfeited. That tilts the deal toward the seller, and over years of watching these, Jeb has rarely seen a lease-option actually close into a purchase. Josh sees a narrower case where it fits: you already love a specific property and only need time to become financeable. A lease-option can lock in a price today while you get there. That describes a real set of buyers, like a new business owner without enough self-employment history yet, or someone whose income situation is about to stabilize. The framework if you are considering one: - Treat the rent premium as the price of an option you might never exercise. - Read exactly what happens to the credited money if you walk away. - Only sign if you are genuinely likely to buy and the locked price is worth the premium. These contracts vary widely, so have a real estate attorney review the agreement before you sign.