First off I would find a NY real estate contract attorney
Seller financing - my definition is "the seller is helping the buyer buy the property in some way"
Seller can offer a lease purchase where the buyer agrees to rent for a while and then they have a timeframe to buy the property, if they fail to buy they forfeit EMD or earnest money deposit, NY has a law about specific performance in realty residential contracts.
Lease with option is similar.
Installment sale or land contract - usually get a larger down payment, repossession ability depends on state laws. Not as fast or cheap to repossess as renting. Ohio has a great repossession law on land contract, close to evicting.
ROFR or right of first refusal and a lease can be a tool to motivate the buyer to buy.
Buyer Incentives like paying all closing costs or even "we will pay first 3 mortgage payments" like the apartment ads, or "free 99 inch plasma ultra smart tv with purchase" always help sellers sell
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For buyers buying on seller financing, I would first go to a RMLO or registered mortgage loan originator; unless you've been under a rock since January 10, 2014 the federal government has made seller financing difficult. So if the RMLO has looked at your (Buyer's) 1003 federal mortgage application and you produce a written letter to a potential seller financing seller saying that "you should be able to get a mortgage down the road " That should help you negotiate a good deal for yourself.
If I were buying on seller financing I would look strongly at an installment sales contract, dollar for dollar reducing my principal balance, and get as long of a term as possible. You can then possible refinance that agreement into a traditional 30 yr FHA mortage or conventional mortgage. Be sure to record the contract for deed document, and send payments to note servicing company, and that co sends to bank.
There are two other ways to buy on seller financing are subject to existing financing and a note and wraparound mortgages. There are pitfalls to these two particular strategies but they can be done.
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