Page 1H The Chronicle, Saturday, September 29, / ? Can You Af f< There are many reasons for deciding to buy a house: To avoid paying rent which is nondeductible on income taxes. To gain a tax deduction by itemizing mortgage interest and taxes. To make an investment that will increase in value. To build equity, then step up to a higher bracket home. * . Fifty years ago one could buy a per- 0 fectlv adequate brand new handbuilt house in a nice neighborhood for SK.nOO.?Now that mnount is half a downpayment. This is called progress. i But those who bought a house 50 years ago and took reasonably good care of it can sell it today for nearly six times the purchase price. This is called inflation. Most author!-. ties questioned would cite inflation as the reason for the rising prices of houses. Others point out that the problem is zoning, originally invented to protect the value of real estate from bad influences. House costs could be reduced by 15%, say some, if there were fewer government edicts to follow. The fact is that a decade ago one out of two families could afford to buy n home. Today the ratio is one out of five, even if one has an existing house to use as equity in trading up. Here is the way experts in economics decide if you can afford to buy a particular house. Fill in the blanks for the * house you have in mind. .... A. Maximum House Cent (- . ) = ( ) before tax income per year x 2. Maximum Mortgage Pay merit ( ) z< ) before tax income per year divided by 5. KS GRUBBS ggf REAL ESTATE C( INVEST IN YOURSELF INSTEAD OF YOUR LANDLORD SK Ay You may be able t0 buy * SOLD|^|^ for monthly payments lo\ ^8^ -^Jr your rent plus eni?ya siza benefit. Your ERA' Real Es professional can: VdQjl Show you what's for sale fl nO Teach you the buying pro< - ^>V* He,p you make a smart bi - '* : * Ca",oday L 725-4293 Each office Independent!: owned and operated. Smart Shopper's Qi Would You Like? beautiful window treatments? Yea saving money? unhurried personal service? Free written estimates? unusual bedroom ensembles? decorator service at no charge? an in stock selection of curtains, drapes, pillows, and drapery rods? If you answered "yes" to any ( above, you should be shoppir TgSgljlr nr> TMftUWAV WHOmm CtMTf RLO*tft MAu wiwrroMALiii. hjc, moa Phone 748-8363 ) 'r*^' 1979 Wiijstoi s\ En asHo1 SJ . vrrl Y^i i r Hr< JI VI IV/MI VI ^ B. Monthly Cost: Total Mortgage payment (principal. interest, escrow for insur ance taxes) Transportation ex pense (extra fuel, second car, com muting costs because of house location) Garbage, sewage fees Gas, electricity, oil Telephone Water , Landscaping, yard care ? ? : ? Rcdqm , Replacement (water heaters, etcJ __ Upkeep (painting ? cleaning, etc.) House Expenses Total C. Maximum House Expenses/ ) = ( ) after tax income per month divided by 3. If your A and C answers are higher than the cost, payments and expenses of your prospective dream home, it is one you can afford. If your answers are lower, there are adjustments you can make: A. A larger downpayment will make the mortgage smaller. At the same time it will increase your equity, make it easier to get a loan, and save interest. Or shop for lower interest rates. Find ing interest 1/2% cheaper on the average loan not only reduces monthly payments a little, but saves thousands of dollars in interest over the years. \ B. Transportation and commuting expense, not counting unproductive personal hours in transit, can cost $15-20 a day. One might find a job closer to the house, a house closer to the job, or an inexpensive means of travel. Utility expenses can be cut significantly through various energy-saving Real Estate-Realtor-Men Winston-Salem 768-1030 . Winston Office Open Si 3546 SHAW ROAD-Four baths. Patio off playroom. Full pletely renovated t^b years ag Y Price $36,900. WINSTON-SALEI i, IS 725-973 mumi phones answered ^ . Office Hoi EwKHQO 9"6 IVIOI 2-5 Sui ' ; * CLOfS IN-COUNT! Y CLtJB A1XA 0WN*1 Df the ?plH-lev?l With finished lower ANYTE lava I on dead-end itreet. Huge deck w/carp< for rammer fun. 139,900. Cell Aiei ?Pprov< ig at. BP | ^ v ^32H M7T PATB1A STUCET Urn* Nk? ? "J S-mow cottage with partial baaement. Mai LR w/flreplace, den could be 3rd spllt-le bedroom. 119,500 with pcxalMe ape fence cial financing available o n-Salem Chfoni Vfr?.n| the list V\io?to" Ciincr 1974 The m me Gum 3am Home?. methods, and even telephone costs can be reduced to a minimum with the use of foresight. - . 1 .1 Ann 1 11 i a 1 statistics snow inai $zu Diuion worm ^ of household goods are discarded by' U.S. consumers every year because the buyer does not know how or can't find someone to make repairs for less than the cost of new ones. Look into the frequency and cost of repairs of an item before it is purchased. Sometimes the more expensive model is a best buy from a faithful service standpoint. For a fee. much the same as termite _ protection is sold, some insurers promise to repair or replace malfunctioning furnace*, air conditioners or other budget-Breaking items covered by the policy. Such an arrangement could be financial salvation to buyers of pre-owned homes. With the exception of painting, most upkeep expenses might be considered as an investment in self-esteem. Capital expenditures, on the other hand, such as roofing, adding a room or garage, will be dealt with to financial advantage when the property is resold. When making an offer for the purchase of a house, focus on the idea that you are paying for the house itself and that the landscaping, neighborhood, cute porchlight and smell of homebaked bread are the wrapping part of the " purchase package. If you feel your purchasing judgment is being clouded by desire, consider employing a professional House Inspection organization to examine the property for you and present you with a written report on the assets and liabilities of your proposed investment. " Pre-purchase home inspections are gaining respect by buyers and sellers alike. 1 "s ! ^ : nber MLS ?1A. Kernersville ^ L *Ji 996-2291 =tfTVXJ^ unday 3-5 \ .rS^&JI J bedrooms, IVj ===== _. Qff basement, com- I~ T ~ wtv ;o. New kitchen. H HOMES pHHH ^ y?u ' V M>?if ?<t?i (n?u I Bm I I ^ 1 MLS - -iSLLi tQ dQ anytime? - J ? urs ? IIIIIIII(|8? now t n.-Sat., F::nrti " : |=F: We c M J nnnnr about W1LL T1ADE rOl MO*T ' si I UNO Naw ranch, brkk I j \ * ^ wt. 3 Bt. IVi bath*. VA Kp ! \v X? ;d South of town. Only IJil) X Call Laura Boyd. If ffiirii TOT1ELD DtrVF Nm> Hum Lovely 4 bedroom. 2 bath vel on wooded lot with chalnllnk I j " Carport, central air plut attic 144 onrt Martha / I ^ \ Je ^nEE] tMtmdMUtto&t& pir-*/-j \/ai ir no\a/ hnmp hpf0 I III J W u I I I V- I ivi i IV - - ? ? When you ' find the house you want to buy, talk with us about financing it. it's the smart nobody knows more about home loans. Piedmont Federal Savings and Loan I MAIN OFFICE '6 West Th.rd Street. P 0 Box 215. Winston-Salem, N.C. 27102 BPANlHts Norrnsifle Shopping Center, Parkway Shopping Center, Tnruway Shopping Center. Sherwood Plaza Shopping Center, Parkview Mail Shopping | ? | Center. Kernersvtlle. Boone, North Wilkesboro I (QUA! HOUSING LENDER M .. . J ? . .. i i jl,!.. . * i.'i ' 1 xV s'i : ' ?. " i?nJI\ j"? im rn mml.. % /nA\ ? l. ? PBaaBI I innnn mii ^ ~ SV If you are tired of wsm paying rent, JIT >p giving your money away. < = ^ really would like to know all you have J to own your own home^call us right [1 " before interest rates go up again. g | an tell you all you need to know x buying your own home. INVEST IN A HOME gWfl Call Today 22-6566 or 924-5054^||l?| Day or Night b

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