Personal Financial Planning 13th Edition by Lawrence Gitman,Michael Joehnk,Randy Billingsley

Exercise 25

Use Worksheet 5.2. Aurelia Montenegro is currently renting an apartment for $725 per month and paying $275 annually for renter's insurance. She just found a small townhouse that she can buy for $185,000. She has enough cash for a $10,000 down payment and $4,000 in closing costs. Her bank is offering 30-year mortgages at 6 percent per year. Aurelia estimated the following costs as a percentage of the home's price: property taxes, 2.5 percent; homeowner's insurance, 0.5 percent; and maintenance, 0.7 percent. She is in the 25 percent tax bracket and has an after-tax rate of return on invested funds of 4 percent. Using Worksheet 5.2, calculate the cost of each alternative and recommend the less costly option-rent or buy-for Aurelia.
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