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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* p5 Z+ b! _5 t' o" y
, T9 ]- K- f4 f6 \7 `2 R( SOTTAWA - 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 v- r: i( `3 a: n. G9 k9 w$ R6 _$ }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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) G5 B/ I* U" ^! z( n: H- `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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^1 y* A% G b0 N4 R( W/ k3 v- dWhy might it be a good time to sell?/ |' v X. q' z: [5 e/ f7 r
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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.
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* j+ y) a* _# ^9 C( t# ~"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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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.% m# `% F c1 L% s3 f
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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.' L9 A+ N& y1 {. V
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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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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.1 K# N3 G& f7 }- I! D) e. F
: @- ^( Z3 Q9 d" l# H* ~1 fWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.. O1 I, W) i+ A' B: r' h8 @
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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.& y7 |# l$ O1 B# Y' e/ j
3 C% G. [4 p( t2 _# j+ A7 W5 }$ \4 W' }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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) B1 s. M* e! j# P* t0 _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.7 \( V6 y4 M, w- v8 D0 e5 y
- t1 V4 F5 w* i+ Z( wThat 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.2 Y; z2 T m, o
/ `, L1 G w" e: F6 G"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.$ J* G, K" y6 y2 I; q: k" \
& I# P. @; Y+ I- g2 a: }"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."$ v" C- m; x6 S: t% c
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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.& s8 x& D+ v4 l
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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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