Howard Can Invest $50,000 in Land That Is Expected to Increase

question 65

Essay

Howard can invest $50,000 in land that is expected to increase in value by 8 percent per year. Alternatively he could invest in corporate bonds paying 8 percent interest, with interest reinvested at 8 percent. Howard's capital gains tax rate is 15 percent and his marginal tax rate is 24 percent. Which investment should Howard make and what is the advantage of this alternative over the other investment if he plans to sell the land in five years.

---

Definitions:

Standard Quantity

The expected amount or volume of a specific input or material required in the production of goods or services.

Materials Price Variance

The difference between the actual cost of materials and the expected cost based on standard pricing, used to evaluate cost management.

Purchasing Department

A division within a business that is responsible for acquiring goods and services needed for operations.

Standard Cost

A predetermined cost of manufacturing a product or providing a service, used for budgeting and performance evaluation.