A Texas sale-leaseback lets you sell your house, receive your equity in cash at closing, and keep living there as a renter under a lease you agree to before closing. Sell2Rent is a sale-leaseback marketplace that connects Texas homeowners with investors who buy the home and lease it back to them, with closing in about a month. It's a sale, not a loan.
What is a sale-leaseback in Texas?
A sale-leaseback means you sell your property and become a renter in the same home, leasing it back from the buyer. You receive the sale proceeds at closing and keep living in the home under written lease terms. For the basics, see what a residential sale-leaseback is.
In Texas, staying after closing can mean two different things:
- A short stay after closing. In a traditional sale, the seller stays up to 90 days after closing under the Texas Real Estate Commission's Seller's Temporary Residential Lease (TREC No. 15-7). It's a bridge to moving out.
- A long-term sale-leaseback. You sell to an investor and sign a residential lease to stay as a renter, with the term and rent agreed in writing before closing. This is what a Sell2Rent sale-leaseback is built for.
Why do Texas homeowners choose a sale-leaseback?
- Sell as-is: no repairs, staging, open houses or showings
- Get your equity in cash at closing, without a new loan, credit check or monthly mortgage payment
- Stay in the home: same school, same neighbors, same routine
- No more property taxes, homeowners insurance or repair bills as the owner
- Time to plan your next move on your own terms
What Texas rules apply to a sale-leaseback?
These are the Texas rules and forms most likely to come up. They are general information, not legal advice. A Texas real estate attorney can confirm how they apply to your sale.
Is there a 90-day limit on staying after closing in Texas?
Only on the short-term form. The TREC Seller's Temporary Residential Lease is for use only when the seller occupies the property for no more than 90 days after closing. TREC No. 15-7 replaced No. 15-6 and has been required since January 5, 2026 (source: Texas Real Estate Commission). A longer stay, such as a sale-leaseback, uses a separate residential lease with its own terms.
How is rent paid on a temporary seller's lease?
On TREC No. 15-7, rent is set per day and the full rent for the lease term is paid when the sale funds, along with any security deposit the parties agree on. The property owner refunds any unused deposit, with an itemized list of deductions, within 30 days after you move out and give a forwarding address (source: TREC No. 15-7). In a long-term sale-leaseback, the rent and how you pay it are set in the lease you sign before closing.
What happens if you stay past the end of the lease?
TREC No. 15-7 lets the parties set a daily amount the seller pays for any days in the home after the lease ends, on top of the owner's other remedies. Whatever lease you sign, make sure it spells out the end date and what happens if you need more time.
Who handles maintenance and insurance?
On the temporary lease form, the seller as renter pays for repairs and upkeep, including the yard, unless the Texas Property Code says otherwise, and the form warns that the seller staying in the home may change insurance coverage (source: TREC No. 15-7). In a long-term sale-leaseback, the investor owns the home and pays its property taxes and homeowners insurance. Check your lease for who handles which repairs, and get renters insurance for your belongings.
How does a Sell2Rent sale-leaseback work in Texas?
- Get your offer. A free evaluation with an advisor and a realistic value estimate based on today's market.
- Review the terms. You see the purchase price, the rent, the lease length and the fee in writing before you commit. The fee is 6% of the sale price or $15,000, whichever is greater, paid at closing.
- Close and stay. Cash at closing, in about a month, and your lease starts the day you close.
See how Sell2Rent works and Sell2Rent in Texas.
What should you check before signing a sale-leaseback in Texas?
- Compare the purchase price with the home's market value, and the rent with local market rent
- Confirm the lease length, renewal options and any rent increases in writing
- Get every fee and closing cost in writing (see what a sale-leaseback costs)
- Confirm the deposit amount and how it's returned
- Know who pays for which repairs, and get renters insurance
- Ask what happens to your lease if the property is sold
- Understand there is no right to repurchase; any buyback would be a separate deal at the investor's discretion
- Have a Texas real estate attorney review the agreement
For more, see questions to ask a sale-leaseback company.
What are the benefits and risks of a sale-leaseback?
Benefits
- Cash at closing without a new loan
- No repairs, staging or showings
- Stay in your home through your transition
- No more property taxes, homeowners insurance or repair bills as the owner
Risks, and how to manage them
- You give up ownership and any future rise in the home's value. Decide whether staying put matters more to you.
- Rent has to fit your budget, and failure to pay rent can lead to eviction. Check the rent against your income before you sign.
- The deposit can be reduced for damage. Document the home's condition when your lease starts.
- Leases end. Get the lease length and renewal terms in writing.
Read more about sale-leaseback risks to watch for.
Is a Texas sale-leaseback right for you?
If you want your equity without moving, a sale-leaseback can let you stay in your Texas home as a renter. The outcome depends on the price, the rent and the lease terms, so read them closely and bring in an advisor if you have doubts. If a sale-leaseback isn't the right fit, Sell2Rent will tell you and point you to the option that is.
Get your free evaluation from Sell2Rent
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stay in my Texas home after selling it?
Yes. With a sale-leaseback, you sell the home and sign a lease to stay as a renter. In a traditional Texas sale, a short stay of up to 90 days after closing uses the TREC Seller's Temporary Residential Lease; a longer stay uses a separate residential lease agreed before closing.
Can I stay longer than 90 days after closing in Texas?
Not on the TREC temporary lease form, which is only for stays of 90 days or less after closing. A sale-leaseback uses a separate residential lease, so the length is whatever you and the buyer agree in writing before closing.
Do I still pay the mortgage after a sale-leaseback?
No. Your mortgage is paid off from the sale proceeds at closing. After that, you pay rent to the new owner under your lease.
Is a sale-leaseback a loan in Texas?
No. A sale-leaseback is a sale: you sell the home and sign a lease to stay as a renter. Texas has homestead rules for some sale-leaseback deals, so have a Texas real estate attorney review the agreement before you sign.
How long does a Sell2Rent sale-leaseback take?
Closing takes about a month, depending on how quickly the paperwork comes together.
What happens if I don't move out when the lease ends?
You may owe holdover charges set in your lease, and the owner can pursue other remedies, including eviction. On the TREC temporary lease, the parties set a daily holdover amount in advance.
Can I buy my home back later?
Sell2Rent doesn't offer a right to repurchase. Any future buyback would be a separate agreement with the investor, at their discretion, so don't count on it.
Disclosure: Sell2Rent is not the purchaser. We connect sellers with investors. With Sell2Rent, there is no right to repurchase. Failure to pay rent could result in eviction. Sell2Rent is not a real estate brokerage, financial advisor, or investment advisor. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, or real estate advice. Sell2Rent may work with partners who provide related services, and in some cases, Sell2Rent may receive compensation for referrals. Communications may be recorded and monitored.
