Pearl Inc. owns and operates a number of hardware stores in the New England region. Recently, the company has decided to locate another store in a rapidly growing area of Maryland. The company is trying to decide whether to purchase or lease the building and related facilities. Purchase: The company can purchase the site, construct the building, and purchase all store fixtures. The cost would be $1,856,100. An immediate down payment of $406,000 is required, and the remaining $1,450,100 would be paid off over 5 years at $360,700 per year (including interest payments made at end of year). The property is expected to have a useful life of 12 years, and then it will be sold for $502,100. As the owner of the property, the company will have the following out-of-pocket expenses each period. Property taxes (to be paid at the end of each year) Insurance (to be paid at the beginning of each year) Other (primarily maintenance which occurs at the end of each year) $40,550 26,650 16,660 $83,860 Lease: First National Bank has agreed to purchase the site, construct the building, and install the appropriate fixtures for Pearl Inc. if Pearl will lease the completed facility for 12 years. The annual costs for the lease would be $266,600. Pearl would have no responsibility related to the facility over the 12 years. The terms of the lease are that Pearl would be required to make 12 annual payments (the first payment to be made at the time the store opens and then each following year). In addition, a deposit of $104,400 is required when the store is opened. This deposit will be returned at the end of the 12th year, assuming no unusual damage to the building structure or fixtures. Click here to view factor tables Compute the present value of lease vs purchase. (Currently, the cost of funds for Pearl Inc. is 9%.) (Round factor values to 5 decimal places, e.g. 1.25124 and final answer to O decimal places, e.g. 458,581.) Lease Purchase Present value 2248157 | 2148146 Which of the two approaches should Pearl Inc. follow? Pearl Inc. should lease the facilities