1. Carla Brown wants to know what price home she can afford. Her annual gross income is $45,000. She owes $1,050 per month on other debts and expects her property taxes and homeowners insurance to cost $250 per month. She knows she can get a 5.0%, 30-year mortgage, so her mortgage payment factor is 5.37. She expects to make a 20% down payment. What is Michelle's affordable home purchase price? Assume a lender will use a 38% monthly gross income guideline. Round your answer to the nearest $100
Clayton and Barbara Patterson were married immediately after graduating from college and have been married for 20 years. They both started investments early in life, but the majority of their funds were placed in speculative stock funds. Their portfolios performed well until the last few years, when they faced losses due to an economic downturn. Explain how asset allocation could have helped the Pattersons.