A couple plans to purchase a home for $340,000. Property taxes are expected to be $1,200 per year while insurance premiums are estimated to be $1400 per year. Annual repair and maintenance are estimated at $1,950. An alternative is to rent a house of about the same size for $2,150 per month [approximate using $25,800 per year]. If an 8.0% return before-taxes is the couple's minimum rate of return, what must the resale value be 10 years from today for the cost of ownership to equal the cost of renting?
The resale value of the home 10 years
To determine the resale value of the home 10 years from today for the cost of ownership to equal the cost of renting, we need to calculate the total cost of ownership and compare it to the cost of renting.
Let’s break down the costs associated with owning the home:
Purchase price: $340,000
Property taxes: $1,200 per year
Insurance premiums: $1,400 per year
Annual repair and maintenance: $1,950
Total cost of ownership per year: $1,200 + $1,400 + $1,950 = $4,550
Total cost of ownership over 10 years: $4,550 * 10 = $45,500
Now, let’s calculate the cost of renting over 10 years: $25,800 * 10 = $258,000
To determine the resale value that would make the cost of ownership equal to the cost of renting, we need to add the total cost of ownership to the purchase price and subtract the cost of renting:
Resale Value = Purchase Price + Total Cost of Ownership - Cost of Renting Resale Value = $340,000 + $45,500 - $258,000 Resale Value = $127,500
Therefore, the resale value of the home 10 years from today must be at least $127,500 for the cost of ownership to equal the cost of renting, assuming an 8.0% return before taxes is the couple’s minimum rate of return.