this post was submitted on 28 Jan 2024
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wood for sheep?

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[–] [email protected] 74 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I'm in Canada. 25 years ago my parents bought a home for $130k, they sold it 15 years ago for $500k, it's now listed for $1.1 million. We are so fucked.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (3 children)

If you include maintenance and taxes, it actually sold for less than the same amount of money invested in an index fund.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago

Housing can't be an investment (i.e. exponential growth above inflation) AND an affordable place for people to live for future generations. This mentality is absolutely brain-dead.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

That's kind of silly comparison, as that money wouldn't have been available to invest if it hadn't been spent on a home. It would have been spent on rent instead.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Still a tough bind for someone who isn't already a homeowner. I've put a lot into index funds which have performed really well, but if I sell them now to buy a house and the real estate market shits the bed (which it really should), then I'm in an even worse place. I remember talking to people in 2007 who complained they would "never be able to afford a house", but three years later their local listings fell by 30-40%.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

For sure, it just illustrates that as much as the market can feel fucked up, as an investment housing isn't necessarily the best. I've checked the numbers many times when I hear people talking about their parent buying a house for X$ in 19XX and it's very rare that they beat the market. It's the people that bought in 2009/2010 or right before COVID that are the real winners when it comes to real estate as an investment because they made a lot of money for the amount of time, but people who buy as an investment to hold it long term? Nah

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Look, unless you're renting it out, your house isn't an investment. It grows in value and that's nice, but you'll spend more on maintenance and improvements than it will increase in value.

Your house is your house.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago

It will cost you less than paying rent, so it's absolutely an investment

[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 months ago (1 children)

My last house I bought in 2012 for 545k CAD. Sold it 10 years later for 1.3 million. Agree. We are collectively fucked.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Sounds like you're not doing too bad

[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 months ago

I am not. The problem is everyone else is not afforded the same luxury. What is the point of wealth if people are still struggling?

It's frustrating.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Nah that’s in maple dollars

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That's still about 1mil freedom dollaridoos.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I mean, yeah, you could buy a lot of poutine with it but what else are you gonna do, buy maple syrup?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Poutine, maple syrup and overpriced real estate. The great Canadian tradition.