 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.: x$ o- i8 P3 }1 L- Q9 M
- Z h' h- Z/ W. k! w
http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html2 X0 i! N* D) t0 l5 u. d
8 v. \. \6 Y% n/ w" W
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.
8 c$ @- |% j6 c& w
E: t! a1 W( F4 V0 B) @/ GPeople 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.
0 X4 ?8 k7 j" Z4 \ Q% H6 K# D; `( T) Z% S# @
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.
5 V: T; D$ x+ V* Q" B7 H: r
B; [( T5 X* f5 KWhy might it be a good time to sell?
- S; }4 e; ?9 m# T$ |: A7 V7 e) {) E, k+ E
At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
, \6 P) l! a+ k1 @- n; F; p) Z# H5 _* Z/ q2 ^0 W/ z0 a
"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.0 W5 g8 N) A- y, G8 R) w; p' u4 v
" {+ V% D+ b: H5 I"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.# Z- X: r: n; e
0 `$ T( B% E; ^3 c( ~* s* E% u; q" lThe 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.
& C/ ^( B) `3 S7 v- k- ?( w9 B! p6 }% i9 \/ I1 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.1 t8 |! H5 x- B
. a# k4 E, P) g: ^# a& [$ P7 r
Burleton knows how they feel.& f5 }- c- x$ ~" m/ C
( P$ a. O! j& ~0 F: e. S"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.0 g j$ I3 z- G( o3 e
}# l- Q6 r4 z7 G, F# w
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.; w) q. [: y# M5 a6 E+ ]
p1 W/ a C5 U+ C+ bWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.( k- Q* b( T6 [, d% N" K' j
6 }; P) K* m7 m. y; ?
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.
2 Y( J Y; m. b% j; I3 N
3 a6 E( T" V8 o/ P( u uIn 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.
, D) \( v0 H# R6 p
; K+ a r& N I) x( b0 n) XMeanwhile, 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.$ }2 W4 {1 ~6 ^) x1 P
3 k# e+ a7 @2 W( V% @That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.0 u% o; k; E/ h, I& H
% G/ x. {) W. d& NDavid 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.8 W3 {" T5 l! F/ K8 D
6 q% x$ P1 f5 Y; a$ U9 _"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 o0 o Y- e1 s2 H* ?
7 i* u* n" m/ C8 n6 |, I8 v"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." k8 L: J& T/ f1 \
) l& L* C- A7 v6 JThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
* p8 T9 ^ A% w5 g7 k7 t. v$ a' s. P" M
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. |
|