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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html4 n, T" {, C9 u4 L# V9 ]+ g
& v S8 V5 n' h/ j3 k7 X/ R$ MOTTAWA - 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.9 _- P2 h; r, R$ o2 J# ]* }
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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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6 U" m7 z) x( m$ ` M) rWhy might it be a good time to sell?* [0 Q( W# a. b3 B3 ~
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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% \$ t& ^% a! _( R9 E: @6 \"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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$ g- h2 U: y6 x$ B! ~, i% ]"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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5 [1 I5 m+ k, W5 l2 ^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.! r! j- F6 `# o" q0 V
0 _# O* ~( e! U$ R+ f% ~4 YOf 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.6 V' v( E2 c9 o3 r
4 C+ l3 A- Q( O6 a0 H2 i. h& QBurleton knows how they feel.+ C# D4 s. w& {+ p0 x) _. |
& m* t4 U$ I! u- p"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.
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% w& h( }. z' h, Z% r% N. [; S! `1 ]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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; \9 k$ e# o% X6 c1 C: dAnd 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.
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( c8 I {4 k+ q. q& DIn 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.5 P4 p# F% n4 ]5 {. H
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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.( j9 o1 {0 j6 A4 _( P* w2 @
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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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& D/ F! W% a2 b4 ^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.6 B7 n( |9 q$ w
/ |! p( \# f9 G8 \ [- W"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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3 S' Q2 P8 e- a# g$ I! n! g/ s"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. I" M/ n+ ^1 \( K: x
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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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