Clover Properties
See if I Qualify

Your Path from Renting to Owning—Step by Step

A structured program that helps you choose your home today, build your credit and down payment while you live there, and qualify for your mortgage in 2–4 years.

✓ 90%+ Success Rate✓ 900+ Families Helped✓ No Application Fees✓ BBB A+ Accredited
See if I QualifyOr keep reading to understand exactly how it works
Happy couple standing in front of their new home

When Banks Say No, We Say "Let's Find a Way"

Traditional lenders have rigid boxes. If you don't fit—whether due to a credit setback, self-employment income that doesn't "show" on paper, newcomer status, or simply not enough saved for a down payment—you're told to wait. And wait. And keep paying rent that builds nothing.

We believe there's a better path.

Rent-to-own isn't a workaround. It's a structured bridge that gives you time to become mortgage-ready while already living in the home you'll own. You're not waiting on the sidelines—you're building equity, rebuilding credit, and working toward a goal with clear milestones.

"We don't accept everyone. We only accept clients who have a mathematical path to mortgage qualification within their program term."
Rachel Oliver
Co-Founder

How Our Rent-to-Own Program Works

From application to ownership, here's exactly what to expect—no surprises, no hidden steps. Every family's timeline is different, but the path is the same.

101
Week 1–2

Apply and See What You Can Afford

Your journey begins with a straightforward application. We review your income, savings, credit situation, and goals to determine two things: whether rent-to-own is the right fit for you, and what price range makes sense for your budget.

This isn't about squeezing you into something you can't afford. We calculate what you need to qualify for a mortgage at the end of your term—and work backward from there.

What We Assess:
  • Annual household income (employed or self-employed)
  • Current savings available for initial option deposit
  • Credit history and any items needing repair
  • Monthly debt obligations
  • Timeline to mortgage-readiness
No Application Fees

We don't charge you anything to apply or find out if you qualify. You'll never pay a "sitting fee" or processing charge.

202
Week 2–8

Find a Home You Love—Any Home

Here's where rent-to-own with Clover is different: you're not limited to a list of "inventory" properties we already own. You choose any home on the market that fits your approved budget and your family's needs.

You'll work with a licensed realtor—just like any traditional home buyer. Tour neighbourhoods, compare listings, and find the home where you can see your family thriving for years to come.

Why This Matters:

Once you find "the one", we establish your payment amount and future purchase price which gets locked in through the agreement. You approve both before our investor partner purchases the home with you.

Once you find "the one," our investor partner purchases the home and we establish your future purchase price. This price is locked in.
303
Week 6–10

Protect Yourself Before You Commit

Before any money changes hands, two things happen: a professional home inspection and an independent legal review.

Home Inspection

A licensed home inspector examines the property's structure, systems, and condition. You'll know about any existing issues before you commit.

Independent Legal Review

We strongly recommend you to have your own lawyer—not ours—review all contracts before signing. You'll sign two separate agreements: Lease Agreement and Option to Purchase Agreement.

Independent Legal Advice Recommended

We strongly recommend every tenant-buyer has their own lawyer review contracts. This protects you—and frankly, it protects us too.

404
Year 1–3 (or 2–4)

Live in Your Future Home While You Prepare

This is where the real work happens. You're not just waiting out a lease. You're actively building toward mortgage qualification.

Your Monthly Payment Has Two Parts:
Market Rent
(e.g., $1,800)Goes to investor to cover mortgage, property tax and house insurance.
Not refundable.
Option Credit
(e.g., $500)Credited toward your down payment.
This IS your money.

Credit Building: Your on-time payments are reported to credit bureaus. This creates the payment history lenders want to see.

Ongoing Support: We provide annual mortgage readiness check-ins, credit monitoring guidance, and budgeting resources.

505
Final 6 Months

Exercise Your Option and Take Ownership

About six months before your option date, we shift into closing mode. By now, you've built a track record of on-time payments, improved your credit score, and accumulated your down payment.

The Final Stretch:
  • 6 Months Out: Pull credit report, gather docs.
  • 4 Months Out: Meet with mortgage professional, submit apps.
  • 2 Months Out: Secure approval, engage lawyer, appraisal.
  • Closing Day: Sign, transfer title, OWN IT.

You took a situation where traditional lenders said "no" and built a path to "yes." Congratulations—you're a homeowner.

The Numbers: Understanding Your Investment

Rent-to-own involves higher monthly costs than traditional renting. Here's why that premium makes mathematical sense—and when it doesn't.

CONTINUE RENTING

Scenario: 3-Year Path

Monthly Rent$3,000
3-Year Total Cost$108,000
Equity Built$0
Credit ProgressNone
Home Price in 3 Years
(4.5% growth)~$402,500
Position After 3 Years
Starting from scratch, chasing prices
RECOMMENDED

RENT-TO-OWN WITH CLOVER

Scenario: 3-year path on a $530,000 home

Total Monthly Payment$3,928 ($3,428 mortgage expenses + $500 credit)
Down Payment Required Up Front$25,000
3-Year Cost$141,408
Total Down Payment Built through Credits$18,000
Credit Progress36 months reported
Purchase Price after 3 years$604,818 (locked in)
Position in 3 years
Homeowner with $25k initial downpayment + $18,000 credits = $43,000 Down payment

The Honest Trade-Off

You pay ~$928/month more than market rent which is equal to a mortgage payment if you were to be qualified by the bank in the same situation. Over 3 years, that's $33,408 in "premium" above what you'd pay to rent.

For someone who isn't ready to commit or can't sustain the payments, it's the wrong move. That's why we qualify carefully.

In exchange, you:

  • ✓ Lock in today's price (hedge against appreciation)
  • ✓ Build $18,000 in down payment ($500 each month just for paying on time out of your total payment)
  • ✓ Establish 3 years of credit history
  • ✓ Actually own your home and create stability and security for your family
  • ✓ Lock in your monthly payment for 3 years (no increases)

Rent-to-Own Works When You Have Income, Commitment, and a Fixable Gap

We've helped over 900 families reach homeownership. They came from different situations, but shared common traits: stable income, determination to improve their situation, and a specific barrier that time and structure could solve.

Newcomers to Canada

New to Canada? Your Work History Counts Here.

You have years of financial discipline—just not in Canada's credit system yet. Our program reports your payments to credit bureaus, helping you build the Canadian credit history lenders require.

Learn About Our Newcomer Program
Self-Employed Professionals

Your Income Is Real—Now Make It Documentable.

Banks see your tax return, not your actual cash flow. If you need 18–24 months to build the income documentation lenders require, rent-to-own bridges that gap.

Learn About Our Entrepreneur Program
Credit Rebuilders

A Fresh Start in the Home You Love.

Divorce, job loss, health crisis, business failure—life happens. If your credit was damaged by circumstances that have since stabilized, we can help you rebuild while you live in your future home.

Learn About Our Credit Rebuilder Program
Disciplined Savers

Turn Rent Into Your Down Payment.

Good job, good credit, but can't seem to save while paying high rent? Our structured program creates the forced savings mechanism that actually works.

Learn About Our Saver Program

What Rent-to-Own Is Not (And How to Spot a Scam)

The rent-to-own industry has operators who give it a bad name. Before working with anyone—including us—know the warning signs of arrangements designed to fail you.

How Clover Is Different

  • ✓You choose any home on the market—not from our inventory
  • ✓We strongly recommend independent legal advice – your lawyer, not ours.
  • ✓We use conservative, market-appropriate appreciation rates
  • ✓We structure programs around what a real mortgage would look like if you could qualify today and credit you back each month towards your down payment just for paying on time.
  • ✓We provide ongoing support and annual mortgage readiness check-ins
  • ✓We give you time to make informed decisions
Our 90%+ success rate exists because we only accept families with a realistic path to mortgage qualification. We'd rather turn someone away than set them up to fail.
🚩

They want money before you see the property

Legitimate operators never ask for payment before showing the home and providing full program details.

🚩

They won't let you choose your own home

Being limited to "inventory" properties often means you're inheriting a problem property they can't sell otherwise.

🚩

They discourage independent legal review

Anyone who doesn't want a lawyer reviewing their contracts is hiding something. Walk away immediately.

🚩

The appreciation rate seems high

If they're projecting 7–8% annual appreciation to set your future price, your purchase price may be inflated beyond market value—making mortgage approval difficult.

🚩

There's no clear path to mortgage qualification

If they can't explain exactly how you'll qualify for a mortgage at the end, the program isn't designed for your success.

🚩

They pressure you to act fast

Urgency tactics are manipulation tactics. Legitimate opportunities allow time for due diligence.

🚩

Monthly credits seem too low

If you're only building 3–4% down payment over 3 years, you likely won't have enough to qualify for a mortgage.

Common Questions About Our Process

The minimum initial option deposit is $20,000 for a house up to $550,000. However, the amount that makes sense for you depends on your target home price and monthly budget. A larger initial deposit means lower monthly payments and faster down payment accumulation. Most of our successful families start with $20,000 and up.
Your monthly payment would be very similar to what it would be if you got a mortgage with the same situation as you have now – IE: $500,000 house with $25,000 down – would equal a $475,000 mortgage. The payment plus property tax and house insurance would be similar in a rent-to-own. The bonus is that we give you a credit back each month to go towards your down payment when you pay on time. We would be happy to discuss this with you further.
This is the most important question to understand. If you cannot qualify for a mortgage and choose not to exercise your option, you forfeit the option credits you've accumulated. This is why we're so careful about qualification—we only accept families we believe have a realistic path to mortgage approval. Your success is literally our business model.
Your purchase price is locked in at the start. If market values decline significantly, you have a decision to make: you can extend for an additional year to give the value time to increase, exercise your option at the agreed price, or walk away and forfeit your credits. This is a real risk, which is why we focus on stable markets and realistic appreciation assumptions.
Yes—and we encourage it. Cosmetic improvements that add value benefit you when you take ownership. Major structural changes require investor approval. Any value you add through improvements increases your equity position.
You do. Our program treats you as a homeowner-in-waiting, which means homeowner responsibilities. Budget for normal maintenance and unexpected repairs just as you would if you already owned the home.
Life happens. If circumstances change—job loss, family changes, health issues—contact us immediately. Depending on the situation, we may be able to extend your term, adjust payment structures, or find other solutions. The worst thing you can do is go silent. Communication is everything.
During the rent-to-own period, the investor holds title and the mortgage. You're a tenant with an option to purchase—not yet an owner. You don't get mortgage interest deductions or homeowner tax benefits until you exercise your option and take title. The benefit is access: you get into the home now and build toward ownership when banks would otherwise say no.
Often yes, though early purchase may involve covering the investor's mortgage break penalty. This is negotiable and depends on your specific agreement. Many families have successfully purchased 6–12 months ahead of schedule.

15 Years of Helping Families Reach Homeownership

90%+
Success Rate
Nine out of ten families in our program achieve homeownership. Industry average is ~50%.
900+
Families Helped
Across Ontario and Alberta, we've guided families from application to ownership.
15+
Years in Business
Founded in 2009, we've operated through multiple market cycles with consistent results.
A+
BBB Rating
Accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 2017, maintaining the highest possible rating.
“
"All the other companies said no. Clover said 'let's see.' They didn't just give us a house, they gave us a plan. Three years later, we're not renters anymore. We're owners."
The Sarah FamilyHomeowners since 2021
Read More Success Stories →

Ready to See If You Qualify?

Our application takes about 10 minutes. You'll learn whether rent-to-own is a fit for your situation, what you can afford, and what your path to homeownership could look like.

No fees. No obligation. Just clarity.
Start Your Application →
✓ No application fees✓ No obligation✓ Response within 48 hours
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"Alternative Path to Homeownership" — everything you need to know before making a decision.

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