Thursday 10 May 2012

Vancouver Sun: 为何现在是卖房兑现的好时机?

Hot Canadian home prices moving some homeowners to sell -- for profit
MAY 10, 2012 1:01 PM



Why might it be a good time to sell?
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.
"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.
"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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.

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.
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.
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.
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.

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.
That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.

"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.
"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."
The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.

"我们现在正在面对一完全不理智的对房市的过度依赖。 很多人认为房市是某种奇幻的, 永远只涨不跌的投资项目。  但是,当调整期/泡沫破灭到来,许多人过满的信心将转为恐惧。。。"

"我们现在明显处于大温房市最高点,而房市的未来值得担忧 。 许多分析师已预测跌幅将至少10-25% (某些过热地区将跌更多)。  现在可以说是卖房兑现的最佳时机。 "

(GF认为,最佳时机其实是去年6月以前)

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