. How Much Mortgage Will the Bank Approve? Background Assume that you are a bank manager for a large bank in Oshawa. Sam Smith, a new client of yours, is interested in obtaining a mortgage from you. This will be Sam's first home purchase. Sam has been working full-time for 4 years as an insurance agent. Sam does not have a spouse, partner or children. Sam's real estate agent recently showed him the perfect home. This house is large, beautiful and is located in Sam's favourite part of town. Sam's real estate agent believes that the current homeowners will agree to sell their home for $450,000. Sam has $50,000 in cash to pay as a down payment on the home. Sam will need to obtain a mortgage to pay for the remainder of the home. After discussing these facts with Sam, you provide him with the following suggestions: You recommend to Sam that the mortgage be amortized over 25 years. You also recommend a five-year, fixed mortgage, in order to lock in the current interest rate for 5 years, in case interest rates increase further in future years. The current five-year fixed mortgage interest rate is 4 percent, compounded semi-annually. Additional information pertaining to Sam's mortgage application includes the following: Sam's credit score is 700. Sam's monthly gross income is $8,000. The expected monthly mortgage payments will be $2,104 per month on a mortgage of $400,000, at 4% per year for 5 years. Other monthly expenses related to the house are expected to be as follows: heating costs = $120; i. II. property taxes = $250; and, iii. Sam also pays $500 per month towards his Visa debt. Assume that you will use the following two key criteria to determine whether you can offer Sam a mortgage of $400,000: i. Sam's current credit score, and ii. Results of the debt ratio analysis. I QUIRE