<![CDATA[“So, here’s the punch line… At these killer low rates, AFTER a down payment of $600k, the carrying costs would be $1,374 per month MORE than renting, and that’s not even adding in the $500ish strata, taxes and special levy! Why would I buy? Why?”]]>“I’m renting a $1.5m house in Vancouver which was renovated to the tune of $180k just before we moved in. I had to peel the protective lining off the steel appliances and fittings in the 4 bathrooms.
“I have a 3 year lease for $2,900 per month. I don’t know how much the taxes are (surely more = better in the self gratifying eye of the locals) but the strata fee is $446, with a special levy of $43,000 (yes thousands) this year to refurb the outdoor and indoor pools and common facilities. It is in Shaugnessy where the cream is turned for its cream.
“So, here’s the punch line… At these killer low rates, AFTER a down payment of $600k (no 95% financing here) the carrying costs would be $1,374 per month MORE than renting and that’s not even adding in the $500ish strata, taxes and special levy! Why would I buy? Why?”
– Mark, as quoted at greaterfool.ca 8 Apr 2012
Why? Well, Mark, we agree you shouldn’t buy, but if you were a citizen who was buying, you’d be buying for two reasons:
1. if your net-worth was large enough that a 50% or more drop in the $1.75 Million home would be very easily tolerated; where such a drop would only make up an insignificant portion of your net-worth;
or,
2. if you were consciously or unconsciously betting (speculating) that the price of this house will rise substantially year after year.
There really is no other reason to buy.
(BTW, are there any $1.7M ‘homes’ left in Shaugnessy? Don’t think so.)
– vreaa
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