Student Home buy Plan

Tuition costs are climbing, housing costs are climbing, it seems like all the costs for students are climbing these days. Students can provide cost increases less than any other demographic in Canada. Because of this, parents and students alike are looking for new ways to offset the costs of education.

Student loans can be used to defer these costs to some extent, but they need to be repaid after graduation. Its difficult to climb the corporate ladder or get ahead in life when you have $30,000 worth of debt before your first job is already found!

Bursaries, grants, and scholarships are another great source of funding for a student. However, the amount of money obtainable is thinning, and the competition is growing stiffer for this money each year.

The average student, over a 4 year degree, pays over $16,000 in tuition and books. Housing costs approximately $38,000 for a 4 year degree. This is based on rent of $800 per month for 48 months.

This method the total cost of education for a student is over $54,000 before paying for any clothes, food, or as a hobby expenses. Given that the average student doesnt qualify for more than about $9000/year in student loans, this method an average student needs to find over $18,000 during their 4 year education career to be able to go to school. Not to mention the cost of food and clothes.

So how does a student get ahead in life, avoid enormous student loans, and nevertheless get an education?

Many parents have been turning to Real Estate as a solution for a solution. Let me explain what theyre doing…

When their first child enrolls in university, the parents buy a small home with easy access to the University. The more bedrooms the better! This opens many possibilities for the parents, in addition as the students.

First, the character will likely appreciate in value, presenting the parents with equity that can later be used to repay student loans or their own personal use.

Second, the rent the student would have paid to a landlord or dormitory is being used to repay the mortgage, creating more equity in the character.

Third, being a rental character, the tax benefits of the character are fabulous. Any interest paid on the mortgage is a write-off. Maintenance and improvements, in addition as taxes and often utilities, are expenses that can be written off.

Fourth, there is the possible for additional tenants. Suppose you were to buy a 3 bedroom bungalow for approximately $150,000. The cost of the mortgage would be approximately $900; based on a 5.5% 25 year mortgage with 5% down payment. Thats just $100 dollars more than rent on a typical 1 bedroom apartment close to the University of Alberta right now.

Your child finds 2 roommates to proportion expenses with. They each pay you $600 per month; the tenants are then saving $200 per month over the cost of renting an apartment. A good deal for them!

Your total revenue on the home is $1200 per month. Your child lives for free, and clears $300 per month, which can be put towards living expenses and spending money. Now your child can go to school, not work, and focus on studying.

What if you were to finish the basement with an additional 2 bedrooms? That would essentially double your income, or allow you to clear $1500 per month. Your child gets $500 per month for expenses and living, and theres an additional $12000/year ($100/month) to be put towards tuition, books, and other university expenses.

Lets look at this again, using 2 family as examples. The Smiths and the Jones.

The Smiths send their son, Steve, to university for 4 years. He rents an apartment in residence for $800 per month while going to school. His tuition, including books, is about $4000. Spending money, clothing, and food costs are approximately $500 per month. So Steves annual costs are approximately $20,000 yearly.

Student loans and scholarships (assuming Scott qualifies) cover approximately half of this, leaving him and his parents to cover the rest. Scott has to get a part time job to pay for some of it, and work complete time in the summers to help.

The Smiths struggle by, using their savings and hard work to get by a tough 4 years. When Scott graduates, he has to start repaying is $30,000-$35,000 in student loans. Hell be making that payment for the next 10 years…

Now lets look at the Jones.

The Jones buy a home close to the school for their daughter Sally. They make a 5% down payment ($7500) on a home worth $150,000. It has 3+2 bedrooms. Their daughter lives in 1 room, and manages the rest of the tenants in exchange for free rent and a monthly allowance of $500 to cover her living expenses. Each of the additional 4 rooms are rented for $600 per month including utilities and laundry. A great deal for ANY student.

Each month Sally collects the rent from her 4 roommates, totaling $2400. She keeps her $500, and deposits the rest into a bank account dedicated to the character. The mortgage and taxes get paid each month from that same account. Together, these cost $1100 ($900 for the mortgage and $200 for the taxes). That leaves an end-of-the month profit of $800 for the character. That money just sits in the account in case of emergencies, repairs, or other unforeseen expenses.

Remember, the taxes and interest on the mortgage are tax write-offs at the end of the year for Mr. & Mrs. Jones.

At the end of the first year, September to December, there is $3200 worth of cash in the bank account, or approximately 50% of the initial down payment. Sally is happy because they can use that money to pay for Sallys 2nd semester tuition without any student loans, not to mention that she hasnt needed to work a job while going to school.

Mr. And Mrs. Jones are happy because of the great tax write-offs they get from the character, plus Sally has no excuses for not getting good grades.

Over the summer, the house pays for Sally to take some additional curricular courses, or perhaps do some traveling. Maybe she already just lounges around the yard and does nothing. She has options because she doesnt have to work.

By the start of September of the next year (beginning of Sallys 2nd year at university), the Jones have collected $6400 in revenue from the character. Sallys tuition for the next semester is paid, so are her books and shes living for free. The cycle continues for the rest of her time at university.

At the end of the 4 years, they have profited over $20,000 in cash after all expenses. They have also been paying down the mortgage and the character has likely increased in value.

Sally hasnt worked a single day while at school, she has absolutely no student loans, and is fresh and ready for the work force. Shes carrying no debt, so she quickly gets ahead in life.

Sally graduates with honors because she could focus on her studies and not worry about making money for school. Total investment from the Jones: $7500 in the initial place plus Sallys first semester tuition of approx. $2000.

Total profits; $35,000 in cash and equity. Is it any surprise why were all trying to keep up with the Jones!

But it doesnt stop there…

The Jones now have to figure out what to do with the character. Sell it? Sure. They would net a tidy profit from the home. Remember, the mortgage has been paid down for the last 4 years, in addition as the value increases of the home over those 4 years.

But lets say they keep the home and rent out the complete character to students. Their total revenue could be as high as $3000 per month, or $1900 after mortgages and taxes. And thats assuming that the rental rate hasnt gone up over the 4 years…

If you were the Jones, you could go to http://www.mercedes-benz.ca, pick out his and hers Mercedes convertibles, and not pay a dime for them. The leases would be covered every month by the $1900 in revenue.

For being such great parents, and paying for your childs complete education, you deserve a associate of convertibles dont you?!?

All figures are approximate, and provided as examples only. Some similarities may not perform in addition, while some may perform better. To select a good investment character, contact a real estate specialized like John Carle. We do not guarantee good grades for your children at school.