 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.+ Z% f: D' `* N0 `
! i- g- X# B- y' r2 R% E8 Jhttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
2 f: j2 g6 H, f3 g e ^4 b' y' Z7 G3 Y+ |
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.; x$ B- F- o3 Q6 _) C/ }
( a: F) S& N# Q9 m) F) M( ^( L
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.' d3 h4 ]* {% W+ G# m* I3 F" k
+ s* U: D$ g; SIn 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.; @: K( J- z4 V0 n p5 S) _
% Z3 \$ S4 D! p
Why might it be a good time to sell?( ]$ J4 p: j, j
. d- e" [. l' g4 ^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.9 \. Y% H: b V: T6 v. ~0 B
/ x( S1 F: u" \"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.5 i! ~/ ~! _2 S8 j) \) W
F2 }" m9 y& }$ X"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.2 n1 `* D" H4 U/ R7 x; {) a
# w' ^% R Z" i6 nThe 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.
+ Q q, U$ o) ?8 Q& v2 ~& K: v# k" n
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.
! i9 C9 Q2 ? P0 Z; Y$ n. p$ e, F; Q+ i0 I/ w7 o
Burleton knows how they feel.
" P& p' Q" [8 W: n3 i$ h3 b
6 K* q8 u C, X% t' l"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.
) H7 [) X* f- N0 j
5 R( y" `0 ^/ wWhile 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 K, Z2 Z( k; p K$ `) p6 q
* s/ ]/ U5 b( E' A
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." g* [3 Q) m. q3 _. `" u4 G
- I( o; l& |3 u( k! K" HAnd 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.
9 I0 ~* g- V) o- {/ K$ A
1 j& k( l4 v* l* ]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.3 j, z. c; |) b6 P
" T- L' j7 A: p- Q/ O z" d
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.
6 ]) U; f) K7 ~
( M, B5 \# B8 B4 H- \That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.& [. Q7 C; L. z* y0 I" @
+ I( l1 ?9 G# L$ d! 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.
8 _ Q5 v3 @* \7 [0 q% U) y4 s$ @* |
"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.
8 j+ A' m/ A9 B
/ J6 K5 {* s+ z% y6 r' ?* ~0 y7 M"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."
* t" S+ F2 l5 \- W8 ?: E: Q( s# U8 k$ y. t+ R7 `# A) Z
The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
; L( u) } z3 j' V: C4 x$ g @5 r. A" I3 p
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. |
|