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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.1 f; S1 F& x% w. C
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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OTTAWA - 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.3 |0 \ c$ C ^. G" I$ U7 e
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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.
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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.
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0 ~) y- U, i& kWhy might it be a good time to sell?: M$ D) Z8 }, j9 C
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.6 T1 T" j) {* k
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.- D1 M5 u' \' z/ C
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.8 a' D& a& W& W$ \* b$ n) Y$ W
2 G5 j, Y' B9 P+ P8 r: l0 }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.% |; }# a. R. {5 r
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Burleton knows how they feel.$ B$ d ]3 M0 F
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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.2 W6 n% T- ~9 u; s; R/ a& V; U
6 `) Z, J! P3 e/ X3 x0 h6 s6 BWhile 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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% B' A$ U) L k9 c: eAnd 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.0 u; v( v, Q: q4 J7 N8 q
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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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G3 X4 ~- v: e- J' j! E1 nMeanwhile, 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.
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7 C h6 [1 a* X8 eThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.) f$ }5 C6 e9 i: 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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/ A1 `+ _7 M S7 A"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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& |) g- `2 X( I- L0 P"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.", |1 p$ ^( R' R, O | h/ a, A4 `
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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.: f1 a5 {1 U' {2 P0 ^4 C
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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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