* Decide where you want to live and research www.monster.com to help you find available positions. The very top boxes let you do a search by occupation, skills and location.

* If you do not see a salary listed on Monster.com, you can go to www.salarylist.com, where you can also search by occupation and location. After you enter your search, you will see an average salary for the position you are researching.

Occupation

_____________________________

Salary

______________________________

Education Needed

_________________________________

Job Requirements

_________________________________

Benefits

_________________________________

Pick an Occupation!

Your annual (yearly) salary is _________

◦ If the above is your yearly salary, what is your monthly salary/income? ____________________________________

◦ This amount is called your gross income. Which means the amount of money you make before; income taxes, health care, insurances, union dues, retirement, etc.

Your Net income is around 70% of your gross income. What is your Net income? ____________________________

First you will need an occupation and a consistent salary before you are able to buy a home.

As you know, not all of your net income can be used for a house payment. You will have many other expenses. It is best not to have a house payment that is more than 40% of your net income. ◦ Based on that, what is 40% of your net income?

______________________

◦ This will be a house payment that you can afford if you have no other major debt.

What kind of house payment can you afford?

Log on to www.radkecpa.net ◦ Click on Calculators

Amortizing Loan Calculator

Click on Loan Amount Enter Pre – determined Payment that you can afford 360 months Annual interest of 4.75% Click on Calculator

How much can you afford?

Loan Amount!!!

Loan Amount

Months of Payments

Annual Interest

Monthly Payments

Total Payments

Total Interest

Interest/Principal/Balance

Using the online information – fill in the following table.

Years Interest paid Principal paid Balance still owed

After 1 year

After 5 years

After 10 years

After 15 years

After 20 years

After 25 years

After 30 years

Log on to edinareality.com Information should be entered in the top blue box

◦ Enter city/state – same box (let’s all stay in Minnesota)

Price minimum ($50,000 less than loan amount) Price maximum (loan amount) Number of

Bedrooms Bathrooms

Then click on Search – All homes that qualify will be listed below the map.

Now it is time to do some house hunting.

Scratch Paper – Keep track of homes that you are interested in.

Once you have found a home, go and print the brochure.

Location (city, state) Address