This is not a rental so you don’t pay rent. You pay a monthly payment that covers the expenses of the mortgage that has to be taken out to purchase the home.  The monthly payment includes property tax and house insurances as well as the mortgage expenses.  The big different is that a portion of your payment (typically $200–$800/month depending on the price of the house) is credited toward your future down payment when you make your payments on-time each month.