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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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7 u, Z1 I$ t7 M2 lOTTAWA - 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.3 G7 Q3 F# k S# D
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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.) U. b$ Q- i$ C8 s
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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.: n0 {8 d4 U# |6 u2 d; J
4 ^4 _+ W- Y" p( ?) ~Why might it be a good time to sell?
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets." s% Z" f- \9 p& k. j& t
: y1 ]5 U6 m3 C) o- m- C"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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r& y0 U, [1 S6 O$ p N3 Z q"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop." l) P3 ? @7 w
% ` h0 v' o3 f7 c' W9 ^& ZThe 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.1 G: L/ o. Z. a, b$ v# \- J; b" c
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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.
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" m/ D: M* b6 w4 P) n$ E) `/ Y! dBurleton knows how they feel.
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"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.1 `3 E) P, a& T* w) D( l+ E6 m
$ M2 E s- y5 C0 a, l% z; s pWhile there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way.
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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.; V/ H9 u _! t5 w4 Y: u6 C
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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.. z* S4 ~* m* r* N9 _* N
) I3 D$ w6 A4 e4 HIn 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.( C) S; B6 E7 y: N' g
4 g5 I) L7 G; b3 V. MMeanwhile, 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.
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/ @, d$ @! Y- f' ~4 z( P+ d% ZThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.0 N7 \( O8 p, t6 t: M. A) o
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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.
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"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.
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7 t8 P5 Q7 @ c1 I' q' j9 U8 w# P"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.") Q# [6 v- Z( y+ A T& y
5 R# v% x: P; m! e S$ bThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
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( x( ~' l/ a- `& l# V; nBut 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. |
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