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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.9 X9 F9 @/ h2 ^
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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% z) l! _. c$ h0 QOTTAWA - 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.' f9 v0 n) ? W& v: ?; ~ s
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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./ A" T' R1 o' P, j
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Why might it be a good time to sell?
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.# j9 T* ^# x0 s' x
N3 S: e: {# \' o U"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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& ]7 y; A2 I% V0 m6 ~/ z"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.* \' T+ `& e; D9 b6 R: Q4 I
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Of course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.
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9 r/ F; w. M0 f$ h' A# MBurleton knows how they feel.) I7 U* S0 a0 z7 ]& e0 l8 I' L
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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.3 u& w7 u+ l& z$ w- e6 G" z S r% Q& b
4 ~/ j& x, @& ?% n5 C2 Z( | @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.) n9 @# v! ]# w( G; v
; r/ i9 d" F: K2 E4 J/ V. u4 gWith 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.
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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.7 \" X9 B, v2 J7 `- P+ b C
: \$ D+ |$ I' N% x# Z# v0 A" aMeanwhile, 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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9 T7 X: a6 H' V% A9 K; b" cThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.4 S; i0 G$ K9 J/ e
* V( S4 X( k( I! b& X5 ~6 B9 \/ P4 VDavid 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.
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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." u& k0 _9 U8 B
' T5 C5 F0 v+ ]+ IThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.) N9 o! ]' G6 m
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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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