Real Estate Expenses Incurred Incident to Lease With Option To Purchase

An advance decision was requested with regard to an employee's claim for reimbursement for expenses incurred incident to his entering into a lease with an option to purchase a residence at his new duty station. For the purpose of applicable regulations, the term "purchase" requires at least the transfer of an equitable title in the property. Since the option to purchase did not, in itself, give the lessee any title to the property, expenses incurred solely due to the execution of the lease with the option to purchase were not for reimbursement under applicable law and Federal Travel Regulations.