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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.5 O- h$ P# R2 E
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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* Z U2 ^& h7 D3 c" eOTTAWA - 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.
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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.
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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.) N) u) o) X2 H2 Y( m4 I, U( i
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Why might it be a good time to sell?
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.+ L. r1 S5 c! W3 i" q& V6 j, v
8 k6 x$ U! j1 Y7 W8 L I6 U' ^" qThe 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." o. `6 _9 \( y: g$ J
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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.1 Z* [% U0 y* `3 X: T
9 K, I0 A F3 C( R2 n2 V5 N8 L% ?Burleton 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.( @, o/ P% d0 i8 F3 ?0 y3 ~: S7 Q
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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.
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, L" {1 \$ K! M8 f2 N U; P4 @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.7 G; S5 J1 _; o$ \* S
5 E2 P, _0 h, `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.$ G# ]' r- A$ b- p8 s7 [2 I. N
8 J8 A. |7 `! |% ?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.9 \& j4 U/ f6 v0 u0 |6 v
6 C! x3 Q% u& S1 U+ ~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.5 z3 O! z t* Q
, @, {6 h( M. x, L" z& l) HThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying. ]& p/ j1 } Y- I0 ~6 r
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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.. I% D+ W4 n8 B j" r' |
, j8 y z8 S& ^$ {' L% @' v1 U8 V"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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! v- c% E6 K7 @% G6 I"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."
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1 w( q/ D; \/ a" z a6 FThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
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( w" S2 V/ f; g$ G5 Y7 P6 \0 w! e# 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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