The option fee includes most times, both the consideration/earnest fee and the options money. The earnest fee is paid to show interest in purchasing property for a duration of time. It is paid upfront to the seller. The options money is a certain percentage out of the property purchase price paid at one of the monthly rent to show that the buyer intends to buy the property after a stipulated period. Usually, options money- paid as extra rent monthly-goes into an escrow account where it compiles and can then be deducted from the purchase price as the down payment for the property.