Emma Jones is planning to move this coming summer to Oxford, MS to start her new job at a technology firm. She has not yet decided whether she wants to rent or buy a property here in Oxford and she is asking your team to help her make this financial decision. Her monthly budget is $1,500 to cover any housing expenses including rent or owners costs (example: mortgage, hazard insurance, property taxes, and Home Owner Association fees). A good start of the analysis is by applying financial concepts such as the time value of money.

Emmas contract is for three years and is renewable for three more. Her plan is to stay in the Oxford area for no more than 8 years. Even if her job continues to work out well, she will try to move from the location she selects to a bigger house.

Although at times a person might have reasons other than financial ones for renting rather than buying, Emma is convinced that she will make this decision purely based on financial motives. She is not worried about arguments such as you are throwing away your money when renting or it is better to be flexible and rent rather than buy.

Total points for the case: 100 points

Questions:

Please Include Excel Formulas

1. Estimate the maximum house value she can afford to buy. Assume the mortgage is fixed rate, 30 years maturity, 80% LTV, with no points. The interest rate that she was quoted is 4.8% with monthly payments. The property tax rate in the city of Oxford is 0.7% per year of the property value; the hazard insurance premium is 0.5% per year, and that on average you should consider $50 per month for maintenance. Determine the required monthly payment for the mortgage and the maximum house value she can afford if she buys (15 points). With this maximum house value select one that Emma can afford and follow the instruction for the case.