California Home Builders Rent Out Finished Units to Finance Completion

The housing crisis has proved problematic for many builders who are running out of financing before completing new subdivisions, but one Bakersfield, Calif., developer has taken a novel approach: renting out finished homes to finance the rest of the construction.

Now business is booming at the Silverado Ranch -- the rental business, that is. The subdivision is currently 100 percent rentals.

HousingWatch has written many stories on buying versus renting, but this time it's the sellers that have changed their game.