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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.4 ^# b7 a! J% ?. N' {
) j' F' H {0 jhttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html- Q' P/ k" s# E
" {- ^5 T/ k3 C1 @; O( P. hOTTAWA - 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.) y$ b; Q7 D7 R+ n( O5 {
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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.5 M0 M* D7 X& m: t/ r B8 O
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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.
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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 $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.3 e; C7 u& t% F4 e
" o* {& ] ~/ i0 y5 k; l" b"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.+ e$ H6 A& i' d ^4 A
: s6 e" f( m9 W; v$ cThe 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.' E# i7 h' a1 \4 s( V* k
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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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Burleton knows how they feel.
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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.
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L6 ^0 M6 |3 J. VWhile 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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( P0 M7 ]4 O7 H+ T" OWith 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 d3 w+ q1 M3 M# f
- O# u/ V0 ~6 A. T; \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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) x0 ^0 V D& L( HThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.' |# o8 E- d1 s5 Z4 l6 X! M& v( K
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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.* ?5 l$ y2 l" t! j2 p$ u( g
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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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4 Z0 M s, K/ ^! l" J# g"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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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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