Determine Suzanna’s qualifications as a buyer.

Introduction:

A real estate professional must understand the client’s personal as well as financing options to be able to service all of the client’s needs. You will examine a client scenario to practice these skills.

Scenario: Henri’s older sister Suzanna age 52, has been referred to you so you can help her with her search for a new home near Henri and Lila (about one half hour outside of Philadelphia). Although she has not quite decided as yet, she is hoping to retire in 15 years and would like a house in which she can grow old.

She is interested in the following homes: Home #1: $200,000 for a 1400 square foot home; Home #2: $250,000 for a 1600 square foot home. Currently fixed rate loans are running about 4%. Up until now she has been renting in Louisiana and doing part-time consulting work which brings in an average monthly income of $3,000 a month. She has been consulting for about 20 years and has hopes that the company she has worked for all this time is going to hire her on as a full-time salaried employee soon at a steady $4,000 per month. She has a FICO® score of 720 and she pays $300 a month towards her car loan. She recently inherited $15,000 from a favorite aunt which is what she wants to put down on a home and pay for closing costs of about $5,000. Currently banks in the area require a payment ratio of 33% and a debt ratio of 45%.

Part 1:

Determine Suzanna’s qualifications as a buyer.
Explain how you would determine the real estate value.
Examine the parameters that must be considered, and explain what you would advise her.
Explain how your assessment would affect how you would work with this client.
Part 2:

Based on Suzanna’s finances as stated above, determine which property and mortgage would be most suitable for her. Explain your choice.