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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 E. f1 `7 y0 \+ T# }/ s( Z! Y
( C1 V0 z& W/ v1 m' nOTTAWA - 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.% V3 J- h& j! C i" D
! ?! c# m: S5 OPeople 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.
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& c! o( v5 i# d& N9 h7 p: P1 N; {/ lWhy might it be a good time to sell?0 S# W2 u, k f8 f* \' W( M" D4 T
' S# Q n& w& | h& j: YAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.6 w: \& @! v3 k( D
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.% T, ]# s( y9 m5 Q) O$ x
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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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, L( u9 P$ `3 @; u0 z- Z( UThe 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.+ z' q! P) v' `/ r
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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. c8 d) Z$ E! t; D" {; M
( `% E7 `2 J9 F& T) q5 k- I+ `Burleton knows how they feel.. _% L& ]$ {5 _" W- X. \0 [
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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.
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. o( W5 L; a' V aWith 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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p5 U; B" e! p2 B. JAnd 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.! c/ n" h# g; e) U. f0 I& a0 |
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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.* ]8 c% ]0 b$ j
3 \4 h% q4 l. X& X! OMeanwhile, 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.- v3 ~' t4 Q( B$ M* n; N2 y
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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.' v( }& U6 Z$ \, @! P! W2 D- e5 u
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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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"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.) S2 d" k: H6 B. m' P0 o8 K
1 A! J# {7 @% I* s* | {: K {" t# \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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