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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.; X- q, s/ O+ G* p0 Q0 }
9 {" D' D2 Z3 M+ C3 J }2 g) Ehttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html4 o' j# D: C8 y2 n3 h# n
6 |6 E1 G$ }( T9 j) q- l# gOTTAWA - 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." A/ \0 U" n. n6 v
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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.2 q6 C, d* c% Y& t6 h) \7 Z
: G! g3 _& n d2 m% ^2 N) QWhy might it be a good time to sell?6 d1 B3 ^! X( Z' ?* n$ U
3 F; @% ]: [/ HAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.+ [6 @- P% Q. v% {! ]
6 O$ E: u5 n& D5 |3 d" K O"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." k/ x& ]7 f- g$ R7 a) W1 n! G
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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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4 k! C+ Y3 x8 T- F' W$ i0 A! }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.
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* W* w' A1 W- W' [7 R7 cOf 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.1 s. _9 E L, p' R: O% X
* {7 P2 a. P& `9 Q) |Burleton knows how they feel.
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! w, ]' }- H4 _& ]) h; B* b"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.( }6 ]' c6 f+ L- w+ S4 `) v% @
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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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$ T8 r; S: A; \, i0 mWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.' I9 g& b0 j1 ^" c& H4 w" z1 m& k8 u/ 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.) Y$ M1 z5 ~) C; w f
: J! ?: T% i M% }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.: p( m4 `& y3 b: c5 }
2 \. d* E! g0 U! h' Y ]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.$ u) k- V1 m% Z. A6 \
6 w) s; u/ `8 A) ]! e" q# V/ F' YThat 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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"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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9 o# }- p8 m3 x6 W"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.
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! U; b! X6 V( m( }, {; hBut 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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