Which financing option allows a seller to maintain control of the property while the buyer makes payments?

The financing option that allows a seller to maintain control of the property while the buyer makes payments is a contract for deed. In this arrangement, the seller provides financing to the buyer for the purchase of the property, while retaining the title until the full purchase price has been paid. This means that the seller still has legal ownership and control over the property during the payment period.

In a contract for deed, the buyer has equitable interest in the property and is able to occupy and use it as if they were the owner, but the seller retains title until the buyer fulfills their payment obligations. This setup can be beneficial for sellers who want to ensure that they have some control and recourse should the buyer default on payments.

Other financing options, while they may involve different degrees of seller involvement or control, do not allow the seller to maintain the same level of control as in a contract for deed. For instance, mortgage assumption involves transferring responsibility for an existing mortgage to the buyer, which may relinquish some control to the buyer. Lease purchase agreements allow the buyer to lease the property with an option to buy, but the seller usually doesn't retain the same level of control over the property as they do in a contract for deed situation. Equity sharing typically allows both parties to