 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖./ x, B; H2 p: l9 Y2 Y5 ^
: o0 b: T# @6 d; i
http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
2 k- R7 y4 H/ x/ l \' m
% n/ Q9 u* z% p! U5 W# P4 _2 I( dOTTAWA - 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.
' P: _9 l, Z! S/ Y }9 d" Z% m$ w6 x9 g0 `- T. y
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.9 Y: s6 |0 ?& V4 b; E/ P
, Q5 }. P8 ~5 E% C
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.
) B& ]4 x; c9 ?. E8 s% \0 v/ k: V$ M: Z" Q
Why might it be a good time to sell?+ G( ]% r0 n3 }" T9 J$ C
6 ?% ]* ^: Q& `& }- UAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
- h! Q; \# p. O/ l4 w! ]
- o/ P4 x6 W- o$ _ D"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.
, {1 w! ?& x7 x! k; d
. k3 H% S' H7 |. _, S" W"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
6 b8 h: w" \% T* D$ g( a- O _) h# E/ g0 L/ e6 E" D7 \# S
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.0 m* i0 I) R! L7 \
3 ^5 ]& u7 x C5 S
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 c! Y+ x( \+ w* ]7 E# H# v. l$ Y
) T# d2 T, f) B* z$ n# R: ?" LBurleton knows how they feel.- w& Z: h! k* A& z0 {& G
# M" \( M& R! F/ S0 |: u
"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.
& R; L3 @# U8 h$ {
' q# m* Q9 W+ H, }8 vWhile there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way.
" I3 K. R3 N* z: q9 U$ e! O" }) w! S4 b& L7 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.; G9 t0 T8 u6 Z- I( L6 I
% o& ^3 G* F* z3 S& o" J# r7 ]6 AAnd 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.
1 Y9 L9 |8 ?9 E+ C/ _9 \* j
) o$ C5 k% z7 E7 |" J: F1 SIn 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.
7 j2 Q1 c1 }/ n2 |0 A! w; G0 D3 [( ~3 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.- \3 |( ~7 u( p% I* ^6 x/ y. `
$ w6 r W C* L. h2 |5 X- Z2 m. {That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.# ?2 T' Z( l* O2 E, ~
1 _8 M/ R$ j- P! p/ ]# w6 F* 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.0 W- |: C, O Q- U" X2 q$ L
* s# m" ]' l3 {3 K1 t1 d; M
"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.2 [: R# y) M% q- [6 R6 }
& z+ R D l5 V; u4 X/ g Y
"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.": z) f. t2 X: v9 ]/ K6 _1 g
0 ]* h7 ~5 o3 |The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
2 c% d Q, f& _: v; G4 x
1 r L2 n$ W6 v* kBut 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. |
|