Ben and Cassie are buying their first house. They can afford to pay $1,000 per month for the payment. The bank will lend them 75% of the purchase price of the house they purchase, at an annual rate of 5% for a four year term. The mortgage will be amortized over 25 years.
a) What is the most they can pay for a new house?
b) Ben remembers from finance class that the shorter the amortization period, the less total interest you will pay. Calculate how much interest they would save if they made monthly payments over a 20 year amortization rather than a 25 year amortization.