Suppose That There Are Two Types of Houses for Sale

question 88

Multiple Choice

Suppose that there are two types of houses for sale: those with solid foundations and those with cracked foundations. In all other respects, the two types of houses are identical. Houses with solid foundations are worth $200,000, while those with cracked foundations are worth $200,000 minus the $20,000 to fix the crack, or $180,000. Sellers know which type of house they have, but buyers cannot detect whether the foundation has a crack. Suppose that 80 percent of the houses for sale have a solid foundation and 20 percent of the houses for sale have a cracked foundation. How could the owner of a house with a solid foundation credibly signal to potential buyers that the house has a solid foundation?

• A)Keep the house on the market for $200,000 because eventually buyers will catch on.
• B)Simply tell potential buyers that the foundation is solid.
• C)Lower the asking price to $196,000.
• D)Offer a warranty to fix any foundation problems that develop in the next 12 months.

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Definitions:

Actual Price

The real price at which a transaction takes place, unaffected by any discounts or premiums.

Variable Budget

A budget that adjusts spending levels based on changes in actual revenue or other financial indicators.

Variable Costs

Expenses that change in proportion to the activity of a business, such as costs for raw materials or production supplies.

Variance Account Balances

The difference between budgeted and actual figures in accounting, requiring analysis to manage and adjust financial performance.