In this "Time Value of Money: The Buy Versus Rent Decision" case study, a recent MBA graduate had been renting an apartment while a similar flat had been listed for sale. The graduate is now facing the typical buy versus rent decision. Hence the grad decided to apply some of her analytical tools acquired in business school to make this decision for her personal life.
Sean Cleary, Stephen R. Foerster
Ivey (W14403-PDF-ENG)
August 28, 2014
Case questions answered:
Case study questions answered in the first solution:
- What is the best solution to take — to rent or to buy?
- What are the assumptions you use?
Case study questions answered in the second solution:
- Calculate the best route for the graduate’s housing situation, developing your understanding of the time value of money (TVM) concepts and calculations.
- Describe your assumptions, methodology, and results in your discussion narrative, and attach a simple spreadsheet supporting your analysis.
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Time Value of Money: The Buy Versus Rent Decision Case Answers
This case solution includes an Excel file with calculations.
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BACKGROUND – Time Value of Money: The Buy Versus Rent Decision Case Study
The case is about Rebecca Young, who just completed her MBA and moved to Toronto for her new job in the banking industry. She is having a dilemma between renting or buying a condo instead.
A condo unit is an identical unit next door to her rented unit. She has been renting for more than a year, and she really thinks she can afford the monthly amortization, knowing that she has a secured job in the next 5-10 years.
Let us list the facts of the case:
Her monthly rent is $3,000, and this does not include utilities and cable television, but parking is included in the monthly rent.
The purchase price of the unit is $620,000, but Rebecca thinks she can get it for $600,000. 20% of the purchase price is needed for a downpayment. This will also include both a local and provincial deed-transfer tax of 1.5% of the purchase price – this is both payable and due on the purchase date. A closing fee is estimated to be around $2,000. The total cash outlay on the purchase date totals $140,000, broken as follows:
Rebecca requested to model the amount of the outstanding principal at various points in the future, two, five, and ten years from now, and this was presented to her.
There were also scenario cases that she considered in her analysis before making her final decision. These scenario cases are presented below and are described accordingly:
- The condo price remains unchanged.
- The condo price drops 10% over the next two years, then increases back to its purchase price by the end of five years, and then increases by a total of 10% from the original price by the end of ten years.
- The condo price increases annually by the annual rate of inflation of 2% per year over the next ten years
- The condo price increases annually by an annual rate of 5% per year over the next 1ten years.
These scenario cases are properly illustrated and calculated using the Excel platform.
PRESENTATION:
Case 1 is presented to Ms. Young as saying that she is renting the condo and intelligently pursuing to invest the cash outlay of $140,000. The future value of this investment at year 2 is…
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Best decision to get my homework done faster!
Michael
MBA student, Boston
Best decision to get my homework done faster!