Want to be the master of ceremonies but lack the house to do it? Whether it’s an extravagant milestone birthday party, a family reunion, a wedding dinner party, or a vacation, you can find unforgettable houses for rent in Europe.

One such house is the “Bradley House” in Wiltshire, which sleeps 24 in an elegant Georgian manor estate, circa 1680. This house for rent has everything a rich baron could possibly want – grand entrance halls, enormous staircases, fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, spacious bath tubs and 25,000 acres. Silver candelabras and Victorian era paintings add to the historic charm of houses for rent like the Bradley House. Inside, you’ll see acres of counter space, as well as a hinterland of pantries, gun rooms, cloak rooms, nurseries, music rooms, laundry rooms, libraries and servant’s quarters. The home itself has a bit of rich history. Upstairs in the master bedroom, you’ll find the actual oak bed frame of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour (who succeeded Anne Boleyn). The weekend at this inviting estate will run you £6,500 for the weekend.

When looking for houses for rent, do you prefer something sleek and modern? Do stainless steel appliances, black-white-and-gray color schemes and straight-lined furniture catch your fancy? Perhaps “Berkeley House” in Gloucestershire would be the stylish location for your gathering or vacation. Designed by model/photographer Lena Proudlock, this house is ideal for intimate parties sleeping up to 14 or for newlyweds who prefer a garden bedroom respite. The outdoor fire pit is the best place for wine and entertaining, while the cinema room and film gallery make for a creative’s paradise. You can buy three nights for £3,500.

If you’re looking for more Arts and Crafts style Bohemian houses for rent, you can try “Voewood” in Norfolk, which sleeps 32. Inside, you’ll enjoy a modern art collection, hand-painted murals, one of Lew Grade’s pianos, a breathtaking mosaic room and a tepee’d gardens. Décor ranges from stuffed birds and wild colors, to soft glowing Moroccan lamps and rich animal-print tapestries. The Great Hall can host a party of 100 for £6,400 (two nights). The grounds are a gardener’s dream – with plums, persimmons, apples and grape vines out back. This house for rent also features a unique garden kitchen, an elegant fountain, a croquet lawn and rose bush lined walkways.

Of course, these are just some of the more opulent country houses for rent. If you’re looking for a quaint getaway and don’t require such a palatial property, you can find much lower priced manors that run as low as £1,075/week.

Ok, so you’ve got this big, beautiful property in a desirable location that you’ve sunk a lot of money into renovating — just before the housing market crashed.  You figured selling it would be no problem, but here it is six months later and it’s still sitting on the market. The next logical move seems to be to join the rent to own homes world and try to recoup some of your losses, while giving the market time to bounce back. Who knows, perhaps your tenants will be nice people who take good care of the place and wish to buy at the end of their rental term! However, finding the ideal tenants can be a tricky task for the first-time landlord.

The most crucial task you’ll have is screening tenants. Most new landlords feel that their gut instincts will never be wrong – but experts say it doesn’t work and it’s not quite legal. Many prospective tenants will come through to look at houses for rent but they’re saddled with credit issues, criminal records or histories of breaking rental agreements. Poor credit doesn’t necessarily mean that the tenant will default on rental payments but it could mean they won’t be approved to take over the mortgage at the end of their term, which means you’ll need to endure another clean up/fix up / tenant screening fiasco.

Your best bet when offering houses for rent is to craft an application with the help of a fair-housing attorney, check all the references and request information like the applicant’s identity, rental history and possibly a credit check. Remember that you are required to operate under state laws and keep tenant rights in mind. Everyone must be treated equally so your criteria for accepting or rejecting an applicant must be written out and uniform. Don’t be afraid to disclose the exact reasons for rejecting a prospective tenant. At the end of the day, a local attorney can be a huge asset to ensure that you’re in compliance with the law.

To be a good rent to own property landlord, you should be attentive to your tenants’ needs. If something breaks, fix it. If you notice something is wearing down, replace. One of the top tenant complaints is that their landlords raise rents without putting anything into the houses for rent. If the worst case scenario happens and your tenant hasn’t paid rent in two months, don’t let your tenants take advantage of your kindness! Write up an eviction notice, maintain a professional attitude and state that it isn’t personal but you are running a business. More often than not, houses for rent are a rewarding investment.

The ideal rent to own property is in good repair, in a safe part of town and is close to amenities like shops, jobs, hospitals, banks and schools. Perhaps you’re moving to another state, getting married, stuck with a house facing foreclosure, or looking to make some investment capital – regardless, plenty of average people are becoming rent to own real estate landlords.

First you should ask yourself, “Do I have the time and skills to manage rent to own real estate properly?” As a landlord, you’ll be obligated to ensure that the plumbing, wiring and appliances are functional. You’ll have to advertise, select tenants and possibly evict them. You’ll have to meet with lawyers and bankers to get all the necessary paperwork and guide your prospective home owners through the rent to own real estate process – or at the very least contract a professional to do it.

You’ll also need to do some basic math to figure out if your rent to own property will churn a profit and make financial sense for your situation. First calculate your “nut”: How much do you need to put into the house for mortgage payments, yard work, maintenance, repairs, professional consultations, tax advice and other items? Some landlords throw in furniture and utilities as a bonus, so you may need to factor those items into the equation as well. Next you will have to shop around and check out comparable rent prices. Generally rent to own real estate is slightly higher than apartment rentals, but you don’t want to be totally out of the ballpark either. Then prepare two “profit and loss” statements – one for the best case scenario and one for the worst case scenario.

As a new landlord, you will need to exercise self-control when it comes to finance. You will need to be organized — keeping track of the rent paid, the date it was paid and how much will be put toward the downpayment (if the tenant decides to take full advantage of the rent to own property agreement at the end of the rental term). You’ll have to keep track of all the money you put into the house to report as tax deductions. Note that you can deduct everything from property taxes and mortgage interest to professional services (painting, cleaning, property management, etc) and supplies (paint, lumber, appliances). You should have a checking/savings account solely for your rent to own real estate and never mix funds. Lastly, you should be setting aside money each month to cover potential disasters – like a new roof, a new appliance or taxes. Remember, it’s extremely important that you treat your rent to own property as an investment, rather than your bank account!

“We never wanted to be landlords,” said landlord Christine Krol. “We would still sell it if it went along with the lease and tenants, and the market improved.”

She says that twice in the past two years, she and her husband Matt put their Cave Creek, Arizona house on the market and opted to offer rent to buy property instead. They’ve even updated the kitchen with granite counter tops and added a swimming pool to sweeten the deal for timid buyers.

Similarly, Jason and Jaimie Smith rented out their Johnstown home when they moved to Florida and couldn’t sell. “We would have much rather sold the house in Johnstown but it had been on the market for six to eight months prior to our move and we had only a couple of walk-thrus,” Jason explained. “The decision that made the best sense was to rent it. We had done a lot of work on the house, and we were trying to break even on the sale and couldn’t even pull that off.”

Many sellers are discouraged by the way the prices are plummeting. Not only does that mean less return on their investment (or sometimes taking a financial hit), but it also means depreciating the value of their neighborhoods by low-balling prices to sell quickly. Nation-wide, the number of foreclosures went up 65%, so it’s no wonder why rent to own homes are so attractive to buyers and sellers alike.

“It’s amazing how many people were interested in renting it. We were flooded with calls,” Jason Smith said. “We had lots for a rental, but not a lot for a sale.”

Many people are seeking rent to buy houses because they lost a home due to foreclosure, they can’t afford to continue paying a hefty mortgage or were renting homes that underwent foreclosure. Rent to own homes are also attractive because it allows buyers the option to wait out the market as well. For young people who want to get started but are wary of such a big investment, it’s sort of like a test-drive for home ownership.

Many homeowners across the nation are feeling the urgency to sell quickly and bail out of this mortgage maelstrom. They’re willing to drop asking prices to unheard of lows just to avert disaster and further financial ruins right away. The middle class is simultaneously feeling the pinch of rising food and fuel costs, rising unemployment rates and expensive health care prices. While it seems only natural to panic, homeowners should take a deep breath and consider another option: changing their “for sale” sign to a “for rent” sign and offering up a lease purchase home.

According to the Hometrack index, properties are taking 50% longer to sell, compared to last year. Most homes sit on the market for over nine weeks, and sellers are only getting 93% (down from 96% last year). Therefore, renting lease purchase homes gives sellers some time to see how the market fares.

There are obviously some important considerations to make before offering a lease purchase property. For one, you will still have to pay off the mortgage and property taxes.  Therefore, the rent price will have to factor in all those costs. It’s a smart idea to consult a lawyer or realtor before you get your feet wet. If you try to fly by the seat of your pants, offering a property on Craigslist, you may wind up unknowingly breaking the law.

Secondly, you’ll want to find reliable tenants. After all, the last thing you need is deadbeat renters who can’t pay on time. Ideally your tenants would be qualified and prepared to take over the mortgage at the end of their lease purchase term and you can be rid of the property with a few more dollars in your pocket.

“If you think you are a good judge of character, stay out of this business,” says Casey Edwards, co-author of co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Being a Smart Landlord. “I run a full-time rental office. People come through my door, they can look fantastic. And I do the credit check and I am surprised at the credit issues, at the criminal record. To find the perfect person is very rare, I think. Everyone has credit issues these days.”

Doesn’t it seem strange that we typically spend (on average) 17 minutes in our prospective house before we agree to buy it? For most other purchases in our lives, we spend a little time trying things on, mulling it over, researching or asking for our friends’ opinions. Yet the biggest purchase of our lives is a rushed ordeal that allows little breathing room. It’s no surprise, then, that many buyers experience a pang of regret later on.

In Manchester, England, award-winning Gleeson Homes decided to offer “try before you buy” homes for rent to own. If, after six months of renting, the residents decide to buy, Gleeson will refund the rent paid, thus allowing a FREE trial run!

Emma Herd is Gleeson’s Lettings Manager: ” With our try before you buy offer you can really get a feel for both the property, which no-one else will have lived in, and the area you are living in,” says Gleeson lettings manager Emma Herd. “Should you choose to buy you won’t have the hassle of moving all your belongings again. Another bonus, of course, is that we will pay you back the rent you have paid up to the point of purchase, which will be either six or twelve months, depending on the plot.”

Three-storey, four-bedroom single family residences are being offered as rent to own homes are part of the “City East” development in Beswick, east Manchester. Families will find rent starting as low as £850 per month with purchase prices starting at £189,995. Residents can choose from a townhouse design or mid terrace architecture. Some houses come fully furnished, if you desire, and is located 1.5 miles from the heart of Manchester shops, restaurants, clubs, hospitals, schools and sports stadiums.

“With restrictions on mortgages this is an ideal way of helping movers save up some deposit,” Ms. Herd adds. “There is no obligation to buy after your rental term so if you are thinking of moving what have you got to lose?”

Gleeson’s rent to own homes may be the way of the future as families try on their new homes.

Families making less than 2,100 yuan ($300 USD) per month can qualify for rent to own homes, said the Shanghai Housing, Land and Resource Administration Bureau.  After an extensive Internet study, the bureau found that there was a niche that needed to be filled.

“As many of the beneficiaries are needy families, the cash allowance was not enough for them to find a proper apartment on the market so their difficulties were not solved,” said Cai Jiaqi, a member of the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People’s Consultative Conference.

The Shanghai government is building 18 million square meters of new apartments, with 45% of the space set aside for budget houses for rent. At the end of April, the city had 33,335 low-cost houses for rent.

The limited ownership homes for rent to own is a huge breakthrough for a city with such high apartment rents. The bureau hopes to raise the percentage of low-rent apartments 20% over the next five years, although they’re finding that only 8% of the low-income families want to live in apartments.  For just 800 yuan per month (compared to 600 yuan for renters), a family can live in rent to own homes where there is much more space, privacy and pride. The program hopes to cover 50,000 needy families by the end of 2008.

In Muskegon, Michigan (also known as “Lumbertown”), there are just over 40,000 residents. This large city sitting on Lake Michigan has 20.5% of its population living below the poverty line and those who are working make an average household income of $27,929. Some of the neighborhoods have fallen into disrepair and scam artists have left many honest residents in lose-lose situations. So when the US Department of Housing and Urban Development offered a helping hand, city officials were quick to accept.

Rent to own homes offer city residents who were slammed by tightening credit restrictions and large down payments a reprieve from wandering to slum apartment to slum apartment. Single family rent to own homes – like the ones at 435 Monroe, 867 Williams and 451 E. Isabella — are on three-year lease property agreements. If tenants cannot be approved for the mortgage loan within three years, they will have to move. However, if they are able to meet the criteria in advance, they will be rewarded with reduced pricing (by as much as 9%!) People living in the rent to own homes will be expected to take care of the lawn as if it is their own and pay utilities. They will receive credit counseling and will be walked through the home buying process, rather than rushed.

Muskegon is home to many blue collar employers, such as: L3 armored vehicle manufacturing, Kaydon Corp precision bearings, West Michigan steel, and Consumers Power Station, to name a few. It is also home to world/national headquarters for Kurdziel Industries and Wesco Inc. Residents here work hard and raise families. There is a high demand for reliable rent to buy real estate opportunities. Slowly sellers whose houses have sat on the market all year are picking up on this trend and are offering their vacant homes as lease property opportunities, with time limits to encourage proactive credit repair and proper housing upkeep.

Buyers are in short supply these days. Vacationers are especially wary about being saddled with another property during this time, opting instead to remain flexible. Naturally, one landlord was nervous about finding good tenants to take his four-bedroom house in the Hamptons for this summer. Would he be able to offer this newly renovated lease property with its private dock, outdoor hottub and amenity-rich location for last year’s going-rate of $27,000? In fact, this particular landlord received $40,000 from an East Side couple with a baby.

Last year, vacationers looking to buy a home in the Hamptons could expect to pay an average of $882,500, according to Prudential Douglas Elliman estimates. As the housing prices creeped at 0.7%, the sales plummeted 42% during that same time period. This year is looking up a little, mostly because many sellers have decided to take their houses off the market and offer houses for rent or rent to own real estate instead.

Even though stunning 8,000 square-foot, oceanfront mansions may rent as high as $975,000 in high season (from Memorial – Labor Day), people are still willing to pay a one-time investment, rather than be saddled with the additional property taxes and hassle. Houses for rent can also be reserved for as little as one week for $8,000 – which is more desirable and reasonable than five-star hotel rates in South France. Why not stay in a mansion?  For the international traveler, houses for rent in the Hamptons have a lot to offer. The weak dollar has brought many Europeans and has kept many Americans state-side as well. However, most of the Hamptons vacationers are just looking for that piece of idyllic property, rather than fretting over figures.

Many low income individuals are being forced to live in slum-like conditions because they cannot find decent and affordable homes for rent. Scum landlords often sabotage people by requiring advance rent and large security deposits. They may move tenants into sub-standard apartment units (usually by luring them with “nearby amenities” like bus lines  and shops) or kick tenants out on the streets when their leases expire. The sad truth of the matter is that much of the urban sprawl we see is a result of foreclosed homes, poor policy making decisions and tenament housing that no one can feel good about.

Several experiments have been conducted across the nation where bulldozers come in, demolish a neighborhood, rebuild nicer newer townhomes and bring the original tenants back in at subsidized rates comparable to what the tenants were paying before. The results were astounding. While some neighborhood groups were wary that their nice new buildings would just get trashed, the people inhabiting the new homes for rent really stepped up to the plate and took great pride in ownership. Lawns were mowed, flags were flown outside, flowers were planted and playgrounds filled up with parents and children. Many of these little experiments resulted in urban renewal at its finest.

Homes for rent have helped many people who suffer poor credit, paying for past mistakes or who require government assistance and a little extra space to house families. The homes for rent market isn’t just beneficial to low-income residents, though. Some are recent divorcees who may be accustomed to living in a larger house, first-time buyers or  homeowners hit by the housing market crash.