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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.
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5 i, t! i3 @6 c4 c8 X+ zhttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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% R: T( ~& T: [$ K/ z- WOTTAWA - 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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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.. ]' O, a" J4 w% [! l
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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.; ^, Y2 d& U- W( Z7 {, Y
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Why might it be a good time to sell?4 d, g& t3 s, D0 N% x
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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0 S& d2 D6 H9 r' \"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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) |, w) d: Z- {$ v' ZThe 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.( J7 h/ [+ d( {& v0 V& N5 N7 W
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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.# ]0 j$ `) W, n
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Burleton knows how they feel./ T/ G/ p6 `5 R+ S
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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 c) e$ r! I2 ~3 P- |7 q0 X8 C0 H
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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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$ f4 T: z$ r# zWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.7 J4 @* n. X* N/ l0 W
0 T6 r' q& {. s" D5 a4 Q ^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.( z- Z' I( Q' D) Y& c+ ]
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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.1 R( \& q7 y8 T+ l
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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.! h# D6 w0 r: ~
! V1 L7 l! N. i' J: zDavid 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.' B9 e" R! ?, R D' K& \6 p- g) r
( ` n' p) `+ _4 [9 `+ c"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.' M& }" f1 P7 N! J* p) D* P
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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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% y( h: t# N6 m4 ]2 Q) j& v% Q3 dThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
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L' ~# U$ v3 ]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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