Based on your budget, which housing option is the best financial decision for you? Explain your answer in at least two sentences.

\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
& \begin{tabular}{c}
Monthly \\
Cost
\end{tabular}
& \begin{tabular}{c}
Up-front \\
Cost
\end{tabular}
& Advantages \\
\hline
\begin{tabular}{c}
Option A \\
Buy a \\
House
\end{tabular}
& \[tex]$618
& \$[/tex]24,000
& \begin{tabular}{c}
Home \\
Equity, Yard \\
for Pet
\end{tabular} \\
\hline
\begin{tabular}{c}
Option B \\
Rent \\
Close to \\
Work
\end{tabular}
& \[tex]$950
& \$[/tex]1,900
& \begin{tabular}{c}
Convenient \\
Location, \\
Garage, Pool
\end{tabular} \\
\hline
\begin{tabular}{c}
Option C \\
Rent \\
Farther Out
\end{tabular}
& \[tex]$600
& \$[/tex]1,200
& \begin{tabular}{c}
2 Bedrooms, \\
Light-Rail, \\
Pool
\end{tabular} \\
\hline
\end{tabular}



Answer :

To determine the best housing option based on your budget, we need to calculate the total cost of each option over the span of one year, which includes both the monthly costs and up-front costs.

1. Option A: Buying a house
- Monthly cost: [tex]$618 - Up-front cost: $[/tex]24,000
- Total annual cost: (Monthly cost 12 months) + Up-front cost
- Calculations: (618
12) + 24,000 = 7,416 + 24,000 = [tex]$31,416 2. Option B: Renting close to work - Monthly cost: $[/tex]950
- Up-front cost: [tex]$1,900 - Total annual cost: (Monthly cost * 12 months) + Up-front cost - Calculations: (950 * 12) + 1,900 = 11,400 + 1,900 = $[/tex]13,300

3. Option C: Renting farther out
- Monthly cost: [tex]$600 - Up-front cost: $[/tex]1,200
- Total annual cost: (Monthly cost 12 months) + Up-front cost
- Calculations: (600
12) + 1,200 = 7,200 + 1,200 = [tex]$8,400 Comparing these total annual costs: - Option A: $[/tex]31,416
- Option B: [tex]$13,300 - Option C: $[/tex]8,400

The best financial decision based on total cost is Option C (Rent farther out), as it has the lowest total cost for the year at $8,400.