Rent to own can be a viable option for those who wish to buy a home but are unable to by conventional mortgage methods.
In a rent to own program, you sign a lease agreement for a specified time period from 2-5 years. There is also then a purchase option that is provided to purchase a price at an agreed upon amount, which typically is higher depending on the length of the lease. You provide a down-payment at the beginning of the lease and when you make a rent payment, part of the rent goes towards the down-payment when you decide to purchase.