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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
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OTTAWA - 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.1 I/ ^. T+ J) A% [( M% U& ~
3 I1 {# h# r+ ]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.* Q3 [7 ^ H8 R( 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.) @3 X9 ]. H; D
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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 $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.( {) J$ T- [# [! P6 M z5 _' z
( u( G" ^! P- `% M' t"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.) p% U- [7 A& D& n+ _
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop./ C3 U5 q% L# t- g) ]& x0 {
1 ^' _" G8 R0 {( Q0 k. x& `/ BThe 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. A2 F% u; r2 b9 P; B% T% ^& @ q8 g& A
& M4 e6 e; x( Q: l2 ]2 _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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2 I7 g" \! T& H"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.% T5 `. j: x8 \2 m9 J! |' R6 H
' ~. A0 ]) J3 c' p+ YWhile 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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With 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.
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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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' a! j( u& \( s: F6 a2 n& |6 eThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.& Q' s/ {% U: H8 t u0 U4 i2 K& c
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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.6 e+ x# U/ ?8 M" s+ E
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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.0 f% t3 ^& O( p0 ^1 h5 S0 D
d' O( V1 q/ }"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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' `. t/ g2 a/ W. m% o$ g+ tThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.# z2 E O0 S4 @( w/ W$ i4 o
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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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