Eug
Senior Member
That graph is actually pretty reassuring, and more so than I might have expected.
P.S. South Africa's price rise since 2000 is downright scary.
P.S. South Africa's price rise since 2000 is downright scary.
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14438245
1. Click every country
2. Adjust the date to 2008 Q1-2009 Q3 (most recent data)
Guess what country beats them all?
We're #1! (bubble!) We're #1 (bubble!) We're #1 (bubble!)
The whole friggin' planet people! Come on! What makes Canada so immune to forces affecting the entire world? 4 little letters...CMHC....
Yeah, Vancouver is worse, but Toronto is a close second and gaining ground. This goose is cooked.
That graph is actually pretty reassuring, and more so than I might have expected.
P.S. South Africa's price rise since 2000 is downright scary.
CN Tower, I agree with your conclusions. However, something is wrong with the Economist's data. For example, their data is showing that Canadian prices from 1980 to 2008 have declined 20%+ vs avg income.(?!) Similarly, it shows prices in real terms virtually unchanged 1987 to 2009.
A shame, because I've been looking for a data source like what they have there. Easy to read, good reputation, etc. I'll be looking that the economist's reports with a much more critical eye from now on.
Gentlemen, as I posted earlier in this thread (see above) the data in the graph for Canada is WRONG. I don't know how or why but it is most certainly wrong.
Canada's prices have not dropped 20% vs avg income in the last 30 years! Avg incomes have been flat over the past 30 years (adjusted for inflation), and housing prices have most certainly not declined 20% as we all know.
And if Canada's data is wrong, then the rest of the country's data is highly suspect
Doesn't anybody read my posts??? (...actually, don't answer that!)
Interested, don't worry I'm not blowing a gasket. I do 10+hrs of yoga a week, I'm actually pretty laid back.
I repeat that the data used for the Economist's charts is wrong.
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glad to hear that you aren't blowing a gasket. wouldn't know whether to send you a doctor or a mechanic.
Not to belabour the point but 1989 was a peak year so over 20 years inflation adjusted prices probably have dropped but recall 1985 to 1989 prices in Toronto increased three fold and therefore 1989/1990 as a start point was at the top of the cliff and results in what appears to be a perverse result(though not an incorrect one in my view).
Might I suggest you write to the Economist suggesting they may have made an error and ask for clarification on the data. If they agree there is an error, I would be most interested as it is eye opening data when the data is looked upon in this fashion.
The gibberish in the quote was from my attempt to embed the graphs. Also, the Economist's data is for Canada and not just Toronto.
This is for Toronto:
You'll note that prices in real terms were the highest 20 years ago, and higher than they are now (albeit not by much).
Dave,
I think EUG posted the graphs to try and show you were you might be drawing perhaps a wrong conclusion. You have to remember that 1989 was a very high peak. This resulted in price increases from 1980 to 1989. From 1989, prices at least in Toronto declined to 1996 and then slowly recovered to get back to 1989 prices around 2002 or 2003 (not even allowing for inflation). From 2000 to 2009 prices went up but in fact if one adjusts for inflation over the long term, I believe the graphs are correct. You have to appreciate that a 14 year period from 1989 to 2003 with no growth at all offsets alot of early growth/late growth and in inflation adjusted terms may in fact have truly declined over the long term.
I read your posts. and I find alot of them well thought out and insightful.
Take some reassurance in that. I am sure alot of UT forum members feel the same.
You guys are joking surely?? You're just messing with me?
First, the Economist's graphs are for Canada, not Toronto. Canada did not have the same bubble in the late 1980s that Toronto did (although our bubble will skew the avg).
Third, the Economist's figures show that Canada house prices compared to avg incomes have FALLEN 35% over the past 35 years. Whereas we all know that at $320k (approx), the avg Canadian home is know at a ratio of more than 5 times avg household income and is the highest in history (and certainly not 35% lower than 35 years ago).