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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.html! a& w' \9 I4 c- J8 a) {
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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.
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8 _* C+ q4 c) W: d% iPeople 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.1 S0 W) e2 |. R* M2 h4 z# |
4 \1 v% O# M) r8 h5 H* q5 VIn 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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' {+ b) q' n) I Y \( @% t" I, AWhy might it be a good time to sell?! u% }+ h# M0 O/ I6 U$ ~5 }
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.4 |9 ?; G) j x
& C9 @/ ?& V8 H' L7 C"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.( b4 J6 ?6 w3 I9 t; U$ c; E
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.; M3 B" n! \- X* s- w( r
6 D1 S1 _2 X: A& ~$ WThe 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.% w2 x) R9 j( |5 ?
5 B4 u( m5 o. i$ _0 l, ]0 |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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Burleton knows how they feel.
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2 D4 R( k( P+ r- E( s( n" j$ Y"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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- \% L" I2 v) n0 N' cWhile 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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! N) S$ V1 R5 i' D( W4 a& `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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3 Z$ I$ h4 Y( OAnd 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.2 p2 R# l+ q* P; D* s4 D! ~
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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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8 N2 r# K2 ]( Y4 MThat 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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! p7 x# }& y- `+ z t2 J' C) q"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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9 {5 |# ?$ q- W& u: a8 H O- r4 O0 d! ZThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.2 W$ U: k! l* m% p4 j' O5 m: K# j, d
" n' V+ B$ O( T7 _" ]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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