It doesn't seem clear from the 5th edition rulebook:

You get up to 10 pts of Virtues, to be balanced by 10 pts of "flaws".

Does the 10 points include the virtues bestowed on a character by their chosen house? (ie. so a character in House Ex Misc. would have to take 1 major virtue, 1 major flaw, and 1 minor virtue. The major virtue and flaw balance, but the minor virtue is "free". Since the character "starts" with 4 points of virtues, they can take 6 more points of virtues provided they took 6 more points of flaws?)

Or, can a character pick a house, get some virtues and flaws due to the house, and THEN pick 10 more points of virtues and flaws if they so desire.

I am not a dyed-in-the-wool powergamer, so am fine either way (and I figure the GM can say what they want) but am curious what is intended?

I see that the table pg 30 says the Ex Miscellanea virtues & flaws (major & minor, major) are "free" and addition to the normal allowance. I assume all the other house virtues are also "free" and in addition to the normal allowance?

They are free. On p. 28 it details that members of a house recieve one benefit at character creation. This is supported by the Magus Templates which uses an asterik to list, "... the Virture that the magus gets free from his House."

Chuck

the Minor Vritue is Free. A Magus starts with The Gift and one Minor Virtue, and then takes up to 10 points of Flaws balanced by the same number of Virtues. (Counting Major as +/-3, Minor as +/-1)

They can end up with The Gift, 11 points of Virtues, and 10 points of Flaws.

Ex Misc start with The Gift, one Minor Virtue, one Major Virtue and one Major Flaw, then take up to 10 points of V/F. They can end up with The Gift, 14 points of Virtues and 13 points of Flaws.