Final answer:
To achieve an Effective Yield of 4% on a $400,000 loan for 30 years at 3.20% compounded monthly, the lender must charge 3 discount points.
Step-by-step explanation:
To achieve an Effective Yield (EY) of 4% on a loan, the lender must charge discount points. Discount points are upfront fees paid by borrowers to lenders to lower the interest rate on the loan. Each discount point is equal to 1% of the loan amount. To calculate the number of discount points needed, we can use the present value formula and the loan's cash flows.
In this case, the borrower wants a $400,000 loan for 30 years at 3.20% compounded monthly. Let's assume the lender charges x discount points. The present value of the loan's cash flows would be:
Present Value = $400,000 - (x * 0.01 * $400,000)
To achieve an Effective Yield of 4%, the lender wants the Present Value to be equal to:
Present Value = $400,000 * (1+0.04)¯' 30
By equating the two Present Value formulas and solving for x, we can determine the number of discount points:
x = 3