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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.7 K- u3 l- A' ?7 O9 Y
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html2 d0 \6 L Z; g8 j6 g5 j
% f6 h0 i! l4 W" H- Z* m4 S9 xOTTAWA - 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.' Y" J8 L+ C0 b( J5 `
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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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Why might it be a good time to sell?% x5 G" u) w# p" F2 g. ]( [
) R- ^4 R D1 n/ M, j! |- n- DAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.( A2 Q& F2 V% _$ V$ G, g/ E
& A6 o! H. `. n2 y"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 ~2 C! C; C* B7 s' l# W8 M
' o! ^) Y# |' `4 Q* c"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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7 [" ~6 K" B# m3 W6 KThe 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.! V! I2 W, \8 B$ n3 y/ T
. M9 {- N1 i3 O' ~$ r3 X) [. hOf 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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& g1 P" p$ K! t$ P, gBurleton knows how they feel.
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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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7 P: H+ H7 M2 Z2 g {+ EWhile there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way.: I" Y R. G, s% S' d8 E( h
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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.8 a5 C* l2 F" s7 Q' b' n, [, F6 w
$ j; K6 `& D8 a+ u2 V* k" WIn 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.2 O& }- Q2 h& }9 u0 D! Y
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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.
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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.
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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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7 q: m7 U3 E7 g5 U+ ]6 H) v) g2 D+ ?"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.% X0 [ I0 ~# F5 K7 T/ X7 Q! H; [
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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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5 z& N7 K5 B1 `! ]* p) K/ e+ IThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
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& y) O: \$ r9 m* YBut 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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