From faster approvals to hiring more workers, governments need to step up: experts

Peter Armstrong · CBC News

  • dobesv
    42·
    9 months ago

    There are already tax discounts on primary residence, there’s a capital gains exemption. Doesn’t matter because housing prices still go up too much. And why do they keep going up? Hmm… maybe something about a shortage of housing?

    Speculators can’t single handedly increase the price because they still need someone to buy or rent the property for a worthwhile price.

    There are areas where housing prices stagnate and it’s not like some speculators can just go in there and force prices to go up.

    • BedSharkPal
      31·
      9 months ago

      Not sure what point you are trying to make? What does capital gains exemption have to do with anything? If anything we should follow the US and only exempt a base amount.

      I’m saying use taxes to disincentivize speculation.

      There’s a reason the market became detached from fundamentals when rates were lowered. I’m not saying we don’t need to build more. Of course we do. But I’d rather not build homes that go to more investors than FTHB like is currently happening. Otherwise the situation only gets better if you over build.

      Also yes, it only takes a small number of speculators to create unaffordable housing. Real estate is a market based on benchmarks. You should look into the history of the BC market and how a small number of speculators drove that market bananas.