Amidst worries of a housing bubble in Canada, the brash businessman declares real estate to be a poor asset for investment
Lyle Adriano
In an interview hosted by Business New Network, O’Leary Financial Group Chairman Kevin O’Leary shared his take on the current housing market; he revealed that he does not see the 30 to 50% correction that other industry experts are anticipating, but still considers real estate a very poor investment for this cycle.
"You'd be an idiot to buy a house," O’Leary said during the interview.
He reasoned that investing in real estate is a bad decision, stating that he does not think that homes would considerably appreciate in value within five years. He also noted that buyers still have to pay real estate taxes and transfer taxes on the land, as well as pay their brokers 3 to 5%. All these closing transaction costs make real estate one of the more expensive asset classes to trade.
O’Leary surmised that it would cost investors between 8 to 12% to trade real estate assets. He also added that given the way things are, the chance an investor would enjoy a 12% appreciation over five years on a property is next to zero.
For close to 18 years, Canada has experienced a housing bull market, with perpetually low rates encouraging both homebuyers and speculators to snap up properties with almost zero capital. O’Leary expects that at the very best conditions will plateau soon, slightly improving chances of material appreciation on houses.
He goes on to mention the potential housing bubbles other pundits have observed in areas such as Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto, where “shoebox condos” have begun sprouting to accommodate the large number of immigrants and/or millennials looking to move into the cities. With too many buyers and speculators participating in these popular markets, only time will tell when the bubbles will eventually burst.
O’Leary suggested that investors look into short duration, investment-grade corporate debt, as he sees it as an even more attractive and safer option than real estate. He also suggested to prospective homebuyers to look into renting instead, so that they can invest their cash into other things.
In an interview hosted by Business New Network, O’Leary Financial Group Chairman Kevin O’Leary shared his take on the current housing market; he revealed that he does not see the 30 to 50% correction that other industry experts are anticipating, but still considers real estate a very poor investment for this cycle.
"You'd be an idiot to buy a house," O’Leary said during the interview.
He reasoned that investing in real estate is a bad decision, stating that he does not think that homes would considerably appreciate in value within five years. He also noted that buyers still have to pay real estate taxes and transfer taxes on the land, as well as pay their brokers 3 to 5%. All these closing transaction costs make real estate one of the more expensive asset classes to trade.
O’Leary surmised that it would cost investors between 8 to 12% to trade real estate assets. He also added that given the way things are, the chance an investor would enjoy a 12% appreciation over five years on a property is next to zero.
For close to 18 years, Canada has experienced a housing bull market, with perpetually low rates encouraging both homebuyers and speculators to snap up properties with almost zero capital. O’Leary expects that at the very best conditions will plateau soon, slightly improving chances of material appreciation on houses.
He goes on to mention the potential housing bubbles other pundits have observed in areas such as Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto, where “shoebox condos” have begun sprouting to accommodate the large number of immigrants and/or millennials looking to move into the cities. With too many buyers and speculators participating in these popular markets, only time will tell when the bubbles will eventually burst.
O’Leary suggested that investors look into short duration, investment-grade corporate debt, as he sees it as an even more attractive and safer option than real estate. He also suggested to prospective homebuyers to look into renting instead, so that they can invest their cash into other things.
