Lease-to-Own

How it works

1. Agree terms — total price, term length (typically 12–36 months), and monthly amount. Terms are fixed at signing.
2. First payment funds escrow — the domain is locked in a third-party escrow account at the rail you prefer (Escrow.com, Dan.com, or Sedo). It can no longer be sold to anyone else.
3. You operate the domain — DNS is delegated to you for the duration of the lease, so you can launch, build, and run traffic from day one.
4. Make monthly payments — processed through the same escrow rail. Missed payments pause delegation per the agreement.
5. Final payment transfers ownership — the registrar transfer (push or EPP) completes within 24–72 hours of payoff.

Who lease-to-own suits

• Founders who want a premium domain at launch but can’t commit the full price upfront.
• Operators validating a brand with paying customers before purchasing outright.
• Companies preserving runway during a fundraise or revenue ramp.

Typical terms

• Down payment: 10–20% of total price.
• Term length: 12, 24, or 36 months. Longer terms carry a modest premium over outright purchase.
• Early payoff: always allowed at the remaining principal — no penalty.
• Default: if payments lapse, the domain returns to SentioAurum; prior payments are not refunded.
• Escrow fees: typically split or absorbed depending on rail and total contract value.

FAQ

Can I point DNS at my product during the lease?

Yes. DNS is delegated to you at signing so you can launch, run email, and serve production traffic from day one.

What happens if I miss a payment?

The terms include a grace period (typically 7–14 days). After that, DNS delegation is paused until the missed payment clears. Repeated misses void the agreement per the contract terms.

Can I pay off early?

Yes, always, at the remaining principal. There’s no prepayment penalty.

What if I decide I don’t want the domain?

You can cancel at any time. The domain returns to SentioAurum and prior payments are not refunded — this is the trade-off for taking the domain off the market.