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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.' f" }/ \( }2 I" {$ f0 I6 @
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html7 u2 j* x( P5 F9 Z
$ X- ~5 Y1 t: T& z- ? u" c$ OOTTAWA - 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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People 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.6 D) f$ T L; I1 z2 U) Z& Z
3 D; y/ _+ R5 J* z: c0 ~! |In 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.' I& e6 m2 T- U) s' q W' m
7 t. ], [# ~% UWhy might it be a good time to sell?
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.2 I! l8 Z$ l5 G5 F7 H
: x7 `$ ^/ E; U8 W"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.- ^0 _. E2 _6 `" H6 W2 K
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.; I4 o0 v& B# D5 y: L) K P
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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.! p* ^9 i) r0 a. f9 t5 j- q
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Burleton knows how they feel.; g- j2 S6 x9 z O$ P
8 U _0 c9 q; g. S! m7 r"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.0 Q& F0 {$ M& J% V3 R
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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.
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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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And 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.( a/ _( s8 [6 u
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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.: }# i! h6 l+ v1 [% ]. D4 L
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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.2 A* z: \! M; V1 g& ]7 U) C
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David 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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6 X! h' B4 j: L2 b- ^"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.
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"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."
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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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0 h% @! o3 y& @. ?, x" [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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