 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.
/ m% Q# H9 C3 Z. s5 ]( j: p! w3 C: a& c
http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html3 m) Q/ V+ n. ~, u) Y& c) U
* f5 V( m; X/ [9 `, l* rOTTAWA - For most Canadians their home is the biggest investment they'll ever make — but they might be surprised to learn you can use if for more than just sleeping.
( y- c* l% F6 N4 w) \! }! l9 X! ^
People generally don't think of their homes as a potential pile of cash in the bank, but experts say it's something worth pondering now that home prices in Canada may have hit their peak.2 m$ w# H Y" d0 T4 P5 p( G/ M v
- ]% r& w- u0 {) \9 S0 IIn fact, analysts say if finance is the only consideration, conditions now and into next year or so form a seldom seen sweet spot for using home equity as a type of asset for investment.3 `6 N. k% K/ K) b, Z
3 O+ Y& S' d7 `3 AWhy might it be a good time to sell?
5 O4 s1 l: E$ L. z: G+ }# ^/ v7 G, Q3 a8 V" }/ P6 L
At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.8 `- U( [ k: l+ e
$ Y% j" Q p4 Y) S) j5 ?3 @( y"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.' Y, s- ]0 J( w' ~
2 E" y' G! P% I: ]8 q% q9 o' c"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.3 X* [' _1 e$ ^( a
3 f9 P* O# P5 j. M8 M1 L M% ^& Z
The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.- s" E3 ~/ I, w }* \
# _3 c3 Q& [8 g2 l B2 O* v2 x) vOf course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.
1 H; v; b# B1 r! c. n! Y4 D
( f! P! G6 T; y5 D6 [5 EBurleton knows how they feel.# M9 h; B% c! z" W
u9 \) g2 S4 l, s1 u1 J1 f0 k" \! l
"I wouldn't want to sell my home right now even if I wind up taking a hit on the home price, just because I enjoy where I'm living and moving is a pain," he said.: _* w: g$ \" `* Q2 B* G D
8 k2 x; E# q( ?+ J3 g3 m3 N
While there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way./ t0 W8 K/ D' T' W1 y, Z
( y3 f/ n$ I8 v. N6 E2 y- k5 WWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.: ?) y% z$ P& N0 I: Y# f
6 d- `- k/ t7 s& c* @% O/ _: NAnd Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney warned last month he was preparing to hike rates, which along with tighter lending rules being applied by federal authorities could trigger a flight from real estate.$ ?! Z$ `( C: b! L& o
# F/ s/ s% [/ H
In market terms, selling a home at the peak is a way of "locking in" profits accumulated over the past decade of price appreciation — and tax free if it's the principal home.5 j& b! e7 f7 @. a& E* ]
, S% j5 j: x/ Z& m9 J
Meanwhile, home valuations have been rising far faster than the rent they would fetch since at least 2000. Canada's home price-to-rent ratio is well above historic norms and among the highest in the advanced world.
" a- L1 s2 n' ]5 K( k- a6 t4 k4 s2 j. Q4 k5 D3 P& S1 C
That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.
- [. s! s1 T. a: l1 j: o- }! z& `9 ~4 ^2 C! ?: s7 t, [# [* ]! r
David Madani of Capital Economics, who anticipates a 25 per cent price crash over the next few years, cautions that like selling stock shares, timing is always tricky.
3 a P- f& C# j" K
8 `! I- W+ J) c( D"We're dealing with irrational exuberance. We've been treating housing like some magical financial asset that is going to solve all our problems because prices are always going up," he said.0 s( W# a4 p1 {- {
1 E3 i2 P, r3 u
"Of course, when the turn comes, the over-confidence that drove the market up can turn to fear. You are dealing with emotion ... so I don't believe in a soft landing."
$ J$ Y+ W. K3 f. K; y, {/ T/ F- g, p K. _8 x* J
The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.0 _6 N S( ?( g
1 N2 s7 n% m) J( A
But then again he felt that way a year ago, he points out, and if households had acted on his advice they might not have gotten all the value they could from the premature sale. |
|