 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.6 p9 t& \2 `) U* b
% u, K* @1 F" h6 h8 M) f* t, ^
http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html" Q/ u4 a9 ~$ U T7 t
% H* u8 P9 I# x8 O* g" i; U- ZOTTAWA - 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.5 y& {" M& a6 h$ S- i
2 {$ H$ A# s* N: M! ^' [6 QPeople 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.
. x- N8 k2 o8 o/ }' I5 {: W# Q! t/ Q( E5 J1 t& V0 T6 J$ n
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 T4 d% |" t" \4 ^. O
* N/ w+ M+ |! d b) m
Why might it be a good time to sell?4 b1 {& ~$ U3 _( b; h: x/ t
, D: ?% b- `1 k/ \
At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
0 Q1 i: n% S2 `; m2 J- z6 E6 q: i+ Q/ S& Z
"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
& P& A, } @( \1 h6 z7 m8 S2 I0 _9 `
' N2 {: n! E& K+ }, j"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
6 f/ u) S5 H5 g3 _
, b( e3 d4 W7 h% Z! ~* [The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.
0 j1 U. C3 T: J5 o6 b- C% M- P5 b k: J8 v) Y, x, E
Of course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.4 S: Q; L0 O+ a- B. K
2 C# X; |2 m; |: Z' L0 ~
Burleton knows how they feel.
! }2 _( F$ G6 {: u9 s$ i/ i3 j1 n! I9 n9 N( z! x* b3 v5 v4 n! ]! ~9 g% j
"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., Z/ e2 s: I. I2 o% r4 x, w) _
) o# L8 N6 ?+ I& p; b" }: g
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.
; ~3 v+ o7 f: ~$ [: y" I" j1 @% ]: t' q" H2 l
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.
! N, {: u/ T$ C
% F& l4 \6 z' @3 g! FAnd 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.
: f% \' s+ }) |; G: w$ @# W/ }9 o. ~0 S7 `* _
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.6 b% c( H1 j( e6 X G! \2 H0 z
4 U6 x7 r) j. x2 BMeanwhile, 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.0 k, v, j8 n6 T2 ~( a0 C2 M+ ^ s
" Q! G' Z* d1 V# qThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.$ u0 b( _ J a+ T( @' ], T
( \( a* Z1 f8 w' F# ^- Q) y3 M# l
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.! i8 [' o5 U( D9 q: a3 k4 E: `
5 d9 |: b, l# L9 ?; Y+ _7 m! R"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.
- H' w0 Q& {2 L9 A' Q7 I' T8 h9 ?' ]0 Y! |% }! L, [
"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."& C& C& L& z6 K/ H
- U) T" @# ]* n D9 j4 xThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act." N/ c+ m. O$ [! R' j* d' N7 j
9 t6 S7 t! z- \/ I! b$ lBut 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. |
|