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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.html0 G6 @7 c$ z4 g0 h; l0 L
, f( Z- O' P/ g0 X( n: M- z8 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.' U6 l9 B0 e1 X# h2 e7 m
( A" n7 `2 E6 C$ _7 g2 KPeople 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.. b7 V) t R* U
/ \* O- T6 X0 |9 {# F- ?Why might it be a good time to sell?
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9 Y) K# z/ x+ y0 X9 n! Z# ZAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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/ W4 k8 ? I5 z: J+ N"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.9 M) D. t& R! m( {8 f& i: w
( I$ @' c( W/ J. k( LThe 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.+ q5 x" ] X0 p$ a/ t
- O" t3 H( _- B: O% D' d0 z; i3 H* qOf 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.& D* q/ r3 t2 d$ F1 e+ ?$ @
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Burleton knows how they feel.6 S0 I9 Z% r1 [+ T, M3 @
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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 y" D" S% U: s5 `$ A
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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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( d5 a& L6 X. ~ K1 i5 ?3 hWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years. o- K! B" J$ s
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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.$ g6 _. J9 B( A; T. W# d5 f
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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.
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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.5 K" b& J; F; b: l1 t
5 W; @5 {; o; q' S1 I, ^1 ~! O; nThat 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.- g" a* f4 h% k/ W; Q
) `5 J- F3 b" F& }* j5 j( P \"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."6 e" \! @8 E# W5 J
* {0 e# k y8 C( EThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.6 p; v. G/ @; j8 j; J. R
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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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