MM255 Unit 8 Assignment

Unit 8: Instructor Graded Assignment
Mortgages 

In this and future Instructor Graded Assignments you will be asked to use the answers you found in the Unit 1 Assignment.

Note: For these questions you need to cite a reliable source for information, which means you cannot use sites like Wikipedia, Ask.com®, and Yahoo® answers. If you do use those sites the instructor may award 0 points for your response. 

The Assignment problems must have the work shown at all times. The steps for solving the problems must be explained. Failure to do so could result in your submission being given a 0.  If you have any questions about how much work to show, please contact your instructor.

Assignments must be submitted as a Microsoft Word® document and uploaded to the Dropbox for Unit 8. Please type all answers directly in this Assignment below the question it applies to. 
 
All Assignments are due by Tuesday at 11:59 PM ET of the assigned Unit. 

Note: All interest rates are to be assumed to be yearly interest rates.

For this assignment you will need the prime interest rate, as posted in the Wall Street Journal®. 
Use the internet to search for the current prime interest rate.
•	List the current prime interest rate:_______________

Question 1
(15 points)
1. Using the internet, research and find a house listing that you would not mind living in. Any house will work, but it must be selling for more than $10,000.

	a) Post a link to your house listing. You can also cut and paste a .jpeg file of your listing.

b) You decide to buy this house. Assuming the bank can loan you a 30-year mortgage at the yearly interest rate of Current Prime Rate + 3%, how much are your monthly payments (show all calcuations?)

c) If you were to borrow the money instead for 15 years (at the same interest rate as in part b), how much are your mothly payments?

Question 2
 (5 points) 
2. Using the house listing you found in Question 2, as well as your calculated monthly payments in Question 2, how much do you pay in interest over the life of the 30-year loan?



Question 3
(10 points)
3. You find a great deal for your house! The bank agrees to give you a 5 year loan where you only pay $100 a month, and at 0% interest. What can go wrong? However, when 5 years pass you realize you agreed to a balloon mortgage, and all the rest of that loan is due right now. How much do you need to pay for your final (60th) payment? Explain how you got your answer and your reasoning behind it.


Essay
(15 points)
4. Mortgages come in many different types. There are fixed rate mortgages, ARM mortgages, and balloon mortgages to name a few. 

Research fixed rate, ARM mortgages and balloon mortgages, then write an essay comparing them. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each? When might you find one type of mortgage loan beneficial over the other two?

Requirements for essay
•	Write your essay in this document - do not save it in a separate file. 
•	You must clearly state your position with well-structured paragraphs using proper grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. 
•	This is not an “opinion” question - you must offer evidence to support your position, using properly-cited sources
•	Your answer must be between ¾-1 page in length.
•	You must cite and reference at least one source (book, website, periodical) using APA format.
•	Do not use unreliable sources such as Wikipedia, and Yahoo! Answers. 
You may submit your Assignments to the Math Center for review. Tutors will not grade or correct the Assignment, but they will provide guidance for improvement. Tutors will not, however, help you find web sites for the Assignment. 

Be sure to submit Assignments early enough to receive feedback and make corrections before the Assignment due date (24 hour turn-around times Monday-Thursday and 48 hour turn-around times on weekends are typical).

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