 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.
. ?2 F0 c( M9 ~1 _5 _3 M# b @5 o+ S- {0 {* S \* k$ Y, f
http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html: z( U% k5 L+ d
8 }; h/ l# A- K5 f
OTTAWA - 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.
0 x+ G( j1 S9 {: x$ @; ~9 o6 s5 O- U3 G6 a) s0 N( }! I
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.
) A; p* j% D$ y" i4 h1 W) U8 k# p: j# v( C( W
In 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.
0 s+ D3 g9 X- ]) y/ s! {5 E5 b5 e* U
7 Y. k! E1 _- a% U7 }4 n: j' gWhy might it be a good time to sell?
* F" z, U8 |+ i2 [5 t2 X3 n* F
( f9 T" g1 M( y- m1 s% DAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
& W; y& X3 }8 F8 P
2 \* s+ ]- ~( G2 a+ K( W"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
9 `; r6 v6 |9 X! V
& A' }8 U, t' k5 G1 Z"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.9 s4 D0 q1 C5 y1 x! W) z9 P7 o
4 A& H* o/ [* `& C" P' R8 W
The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.
5 d# C" ^4 {) D1 f4 ]: {+ y3 j9 O2 Z4 C
Of course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.3 g% j7 T3 W- K
8 c" r9 }4 q: x& Z# Z YBurleton knows how they feel.
' h$ t% o7 Y3 w ~' l& H% o5 X5 h: O; N0 a, F( V* \
"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.
3 {6 v/ U2 T& f( Q3 {$ ?$ t1 y+ g" F3 Y
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.
* i* Y, j" A1 L: @ J4 x8 W, Y) d# B [9 ?, b4 `, b# j
With ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.( {3 ^, S. J( V, V% h. \; U
1 v5 r2 Z1 G( h- h8 L& ?And 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.
D$ s' O" E9 W: D. C- Q
6 U) w: R2 p, q$ o! U2 h$ @/ Y9 G& \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.' [8 z F# g% e& H4 K
- Y% w! b3 [) v4 }; e" m L
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.
1 T, G% p3 r' a) `/ t. p* Q# O! M2 i9 S3 p
That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.
9 N* q" {! X' \& t* B4 F, d8 e5 N7 \: E
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.
1 u9 E+ D: @ N- S5 f4 t7 R
* b' Y. W3 W0 E6 Y2 i& ]" |; V"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.* P: `9 Z2 e0 i% N$ b; B* t, A
- B0 g/ P. \* D' O' W; F* N"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."; ^% M5 ]/ }- Q* J8 p% V1 k1 d
f/ g5 {4 p6 a$ cThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.2 p- ?* j+ l# n" [- A, v( t
6 ], N8 X' R. {2 X) {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. |
|