1. Look.
First, look forward to a streamlined and stress-free approval process.
If you've ever applied for a mortgage, you know it's a difficult, stressful process. Not so with Trio. Our application is simple. Just answer a few questions about where you currently live and work and provide some basic financial information. Then print and fax or email from your desk and you're on your way.
Once you've qualified for a monthly payment, it's time to start house hunting. There's no long, drawn out process.
Next, choose a place to live: home, town home or condo.
You'll be choosing from homes, town homes and condos in safer, better-located, more desirable areas. The fastest way to get into your new place is by looking at homes that are already designated Trio-Ready. But if you're interested in another property, let us know and we'll work to get your Trio-Candidate qualified.
Best of all, you can usually move in to your new Trio-Ready property in less than 10 days. And then it's time to relax and start enjoying your new home.
2. Live.
Try on your new place for size, location, schools and neighborhood.
Here's a whole new idea about deciding on a place to live: Live in it first. Doesn't that make more sense? Then you can be more certain of the things that impact your decision before making the commitment. The economy and your job. The city, neighborhood and schools. The home itself and how well it fits. Why not take the time to answer these important questions during your one to five year lease?
Live in the moment. And stop worrying about the future.
With a Trio property, you get to enjoy the future instead of fearing it. No more worrying about "what if?" situations. Like what if the market goes down? What if my situation changes? What if I don't like my job? There's no market risk with Trio, since you have low, predictable monthly payments. And the option—not obligation—to buy at a price determined at the beginning of your lease. So you're protected at every turn. And as we all know, the world can take some unexpected turns.
3. Learn.
Here's a test: How much does Trio help if you decide to buy?
Answer: More than any other type of home financing. We'll apply up to 15% of your on-time monthly lease payments towards the purchase of your Trio property. And 50% of your lease inception fee is credited to financing costs when you use our preferred lenders to purchase. And since you're making much lower monthly payments than with a mortgage, perhaps you can put some of that extra cash into our Savings Match Program. Do that and we'll match 25% of your savings contributions up to $5000.
Learn how to use up to 7% of any increased home value as equity.
At the beginning of your lease, we set what is called a residual purchase price. This is an amount equal to the original purchase price plus costs and financing for us to hold the property for lease.
At the end of the lease, if the property has increased in value (according to an independent appraisal), greater than the residual purchase price, you'll receive up to 7% of that value to use as a down payment on the purchase of the property.
4. Decide.
Decisions are easier if you have options.
Let's imagine it's nearing the end of your lease term. Now what? Well, with Trio, you've got all kinds of options. You've learned all the ways that Trio will help you buy the property you've come to know and love.
But what if you decide your situation has changed? Or you just need a change. Whatever you decide, Trio can help you upsize or downsize, in a new city, or just in another neighborhood.
Where do you go from here?
Of course, one option would be to continue to enjoy the control and flexibility of Trio home financing, by continuing to live in the property you're currently leasing. So just re-lease it.
Maybe you like the idea of Trio home financing, but just not the Trio property you're in. For that situation, we offer a Trio Exchange program. We'll work with you to find another Trio property in your town or somewhere else and you can move there instead. All the while preserving your Trio credits.
Or move on.
Sub-lease if you're moving before your lease term ends.
Say, your situation changes unexpectedly. We understand. Life happens. And in those cases, we'll help you find a suitable sub-lease arrangement so that your obligations are fulfilled even if you need to move on.
Move your credits with you to another Trio property.
Here's another way you're more certain about your housing situation with Trio. All the credits that you earn during your lease term are transferable to a new Trio property should you decide not to buy the one you're in. All the Savings Match contributions we make. All the payment credits. Pack them up and move them with you to your next Trio property.
When you do move on, make sure it's with Trio.
Whatever you decide to do, there's one decision you can make that will give you the greatest control over your future: finance your home with Trio. At every turn, we're ready to help you weather changes in the economy, provide flexibility or move up, move neighborhoods or move towns.