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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.+ b# K0 N: r+ `, l- V& |
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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* Z( {4 }: J) `9 }, X2 R6 G3 u# BOTTAWA - For most Canadians their home is the biggest investment they'll ever make — but they might be surprised to learn you can use if for more than just sleeping.
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. A* G0 a$ j+ m) A- a1 v; rPeople generally don't think of their homes as a potential pile of cash in the bank, but experts say it's something worth pondering now that home prices in Canada may have hit their peak.7 ^. v/ N1 ^4 K' h( R o* B
, ]* I; T& [0 b( ]( y! SIn fact, analysts say if finance is the only consideration, conditions now and into next year or so form a seldom seen sweet spot for using home equity as a type of asset for investment.- ~" m- k C# m' v. v
+ `! P/ M4 m5 n$ ?* oWhy might it be a good time to sell?9 b. T9 B ^4 l$ H
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.' E6 n. [* O+ @- L5 Y% h2 e4 t
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop. R9 ?' ]3 u- }- W8 x: y w
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The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.
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Of course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.
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7 y% q' x* D# U+ N# [" z' Y7 {6 mBurleton knows how they feel.7 ] C3 z2 ^& Y% [
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"I wouldn't want to sell my home right now even if I wind up taking a hit on the home price, just because I enjoy where I'm living and moving is a pain," he said.
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While there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way.4 v F" |" X1 N0 H8 |: ?& P2 N
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With ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.
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+ t/ _' I% Q$ qAnd Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney warned last month he was preparing to hike rates, which along with tighter lending rules being applied by federal authorities could trigger a flight from real estate.9 I5 {' G2 V8 ^
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In market terms, selling a home at the peak is a way of "locking in" profits accumulated over the past decade of price appreciation — and tax free if it's the principal home.
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Meanwhile, home valuations have been rising far faster than the rent they would fetch since at least 2000. Canada's home price-to-rent ratio is well above historic norms and among the highest in the advanced world.5 |/ U m1 q; x$ q- F S7 W3 t& M
0 Q# h/ h5 N0 C, `That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.1 F& Q( e x" M9 Q- `8 [ D9 R
, W) u- s/ U, @) M: n; K' oDavid Madani of Capital Economics, who anticipates a 25 per cent price crash over the next few years, cautions that like selling stock shares, timing is always tricky.
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"We're dealing with irrational exuberance. We've been treating housing like some magical financial asset that is going to solve all our problems because prices are always going up," he said.+ [0 ]) L$ _2 Y+ ^
$ Y) v. [ h0 @6 ]/ y"Of course, when the turn comes, the over-confidence that drove the market up can turn to fear. You are dealing with emotion ... so I don't believe in a soft landing."3 V' X3 \; F8 _, }0 w+ ~% ]. H1 E
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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
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But then again he felt that way a year ago, he points out, and if households had acted on his advice they might not have gotten all the value they could from the premature sale. |
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