Ah, the 1970's when lease with an option to buy was common (until that went through the courts - can you say due on sale clause?) Today there are several kinds of lease purchases such as lease with an option to buy and a straight lease/purchase and any variation you can work out among the parties through an attorney. Many people today would love to do a lease purchase, but they don't understand that they will still need to put down non-refundable earnest/option money because the seller is taking the property off the market making it impossible for the seller to work any other lease purchase or sale.
Let me go over some very basic concepts of today's lease purchase, most especially because these purchasers also don't understand that at the end of the term, they must buy the house or vacate, and forfeit their earnest money and applied monthly escow. A lease/purchase contract is not an "option to buy contract" where you put down non-refundable money and at the end of the term if you don't like the house, schools, neighborhood, or whatever you opt, you don't have to go through the final purchase process:
1. The deposit money is nonrefundable because no one else can purchase the property during the term of the contract.
2. The buyer cannot assign the lease purchase agreement (unless the seller approves and they won't). This is not a rental sub-lease.
3. Buyers will generally be responsible for maintaining the property and paying all expenses which includes taxes and insurance.
4. The buyer is obligated to buy.*
*If the buyer defaults, the buyer will not receive any portion of the option money (deposit), the portion of the lease payments that were paid which would have gone toward down payment, and the seller has the right to sue for specific performance and report your default to the credit bureaus.
RE/MAX Paramount Properties 678-595-5283 Direct
Or 888-940-0074 Toll Free Office
Atlanta Real Estate Agents, Alpharetta GA Homes for Sale, Dunwoody GA Homes for Sale, Atlanta Real Estate & Atlanta Homes for Sale 
Gwinnett Homes for Sale
Atlanta Real Estate Blog, Cumming GA Homes 
