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Should You Rent or Buy?

Should you rent or should you buy your home? It takes more than looking at your mortgage payment to answer this question. This calculator helps you weed through the fees, taxes, and monthly payments to help you make a good financial decision. Click the "View Report" button for a detailed look at the results.

Definitions

Price of home

Purchase price of the home you wish to buy.

Cash on hand

Cash you have for the down payment and closing costs.

Interest rate

The current interest rate you can receive on your mortgage.

Term in years

The number of years over which you will repay this loan.

Property tax rate

Your property tax rate. 1% for a $100,000 home equals $1,000 per year in property taxes.

Home insurance rate

Your homeowner's insurance rate. 0.5% for a $100,000 home equals $500 per year for homeowner's insurance.

Loan origination rate

The percentage the lending institution charges for its origination fee. 1% for a $100,000 home equals $1,000.

Points paid

The total number of points paid to reduce the interest rate of your mortgage. Each point costs 1% of your mortgage balance.

Other closing costs

Estimate of all other closing costs for this loan. This should include filing fees, appraiser fees and any other miscellaneous fees paid.

Total closing costs

Total upfront costs to close your loan. This is the sum of the loan origination fee, amount paid for points and other closing costs.

Total for down payment

Total funds remaining for down payment.

Mortgage amount

Total amount of loan.

Investment return

The rate of return you could receive if you invested your closing costs and down payment instead of purchasing a home.

The actual rate of return is largely dependant on the type of investments you select. From January 1970 to December 2003, the average compounded rate of return for the S&P 500, including reinvestment of dividends, was approximately 11.7% per year. During this period, the highest 12-month return was 64%, and the lowest was -39%. Savings accounts at a bank pay as little as 1% or less. It is important to remember that future rates of return can't be predicted with certainty and that investments that pay higher rates of return are subject to higher risk and volatility. The actual rate of return on investments can vary widely over time, especially for long-term investments. This includes the potential loss of principal on your investment.

Monthly rent payment

Amount you currently pay for rent per month.

Income tax rate

Your current marginal income tax rate.

Expected inflation rate

Inflation rate used to adjust amounts subject to annual increases. These amounts include rent, insurance and tax payments.

Home appreciates at

Annual appreciation you expect in the home you are purchasing.

Future sales commission

The percent of your home's selling price you expect to pay to a broker or real estate agent when you sell your home.

House payment

Total of principal, interest, taxes and insurance (PITI) paid per month for your home. Insurance includes Principal Mortgage Insurance (PMI) and homeowner's insurance.

Principal payment

Total of principal paid per month on your mortgage.

Tax savings

The value of the tax deduction you receive on your mortgage's interest and home's property taxes. For example, if you have $900 in interest and $100 property taxes per month, the value of the tax deduction would be $280. (At a tax rate of 28%).

Net house payment

Your house payment minus the value of the tax deduction and principal payment.

Net home price

Net selling price of your home after subtracting any sales commissions.

Monthly PI

Monthly principal and interest payment.

Monthly PMI

Monthly cost of Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). For loans secured with less than 20% down, PMI is estimated at 0.5% of your loan balance each year.

The mortgage calculators are provided by KJE Computer Solutions, LLC and made available to NUMBER1EXPERT as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice. We can't guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues.

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Tax Considerations >Not at ARMs Length A sale of a house is just a sale, right? Not necessarily. If you are selling your house to your children or transferring title outside the open market, then the transaction may be characterized as "not at arm's length". Since such a transfer may have tax consequences, you should discuss it with a tax attorney or accountant before taking action. The transfer of title to a son or daughter may cause the parents to lose favorable property tax treatment, require the payment of state gift taxes, or have other unexpected consequences. From a capital gains point of view, it may be more prudent for children to inherit property than to receive it as a gift. The disposition of any real estate should be considered within the entire framework of your tax and estate planning. For answers to all your real estate questions, consult experienced professionals who are familiar with this area. See All Tips In The "Tax Considerations" Category > See Complete Library Of Hundreds Of Tips In 30+ Categories >

Q  The upper walls of what famous holy temple are lined with gold? A  The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India is the most sacred temple and spiritual center of the Sikhs. See More Real Estate Trivia >

Barbara Foy RE/MAX Signature 2901 N. Clybourn Chicago, IL 60618 773-502-7653 barbara@barbarahomes.com I am always available to offer you personal, one-on-one help with what some say is the biggest decision you will make in your life. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or e-mail me! Buying a home? I'll take the time to listen to your needs and desires, and find your dream home. Your total satisfaction is my number one priority. Selling a home? I will get your home sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. My online and offline marketing programs will give you the edge you need to sell your home. I don't want to just list your home, I want to sell it! Fast! Relocating? If you are moving to my area, I can assist you in collecting the information you need, and make your transition as smooth as possible. Feel free to contact me for any information. I love to assist people in relocating, and I've helped many people move to our area! I have built a reputation for client satisfaction, and I am devoted to making your move as easy as possible. You will have the added benefit of working with an agent who understands your needs when buying, selling, or relocating. Finding the right home is only the beginning. I will assist you every step of the way to ensure smooth sailing. www.barbarahomes.com is brought to you by Barbara Foy NUMBER1EXPERT™ in real estate for Chicago, Chicago Northwest Side and Chicago Northside, Illinois, First Time Buyers Read Barbara Foy's Privacy Guarantee, Terms of Service, and Free & Without Obligation Pledge

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