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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.) [+ }. B* z1 c8 }* N
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html! ^# d2 a: j' P( n2 ^' \) g
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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.
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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.
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+ k/ \; D( g6 V) r" ^( [+ K4 lWhy might it be a good time to sell?
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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1 w2 B, K& V! y"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.7 q( p/ t0 S5 z0 B: \: j
" M# ]7 d8 ?& `" b2 S* X. _8 _The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.0 O; |* n& e% l3 }/ D$ V
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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.3 Q" P' n5 _* J9 a% P
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Burleton knows how they feel.( T' `+ Z# \& f1 S8 w
. ~6 }& L: {7 e1 g2 ]- l"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." V- \! \+ z' f! x
! M5 m( Y0 [) F) ^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.$ q ?" q4 ]4 P4 G
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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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0 ?0 G& ?& {' H7 s* r7 T7 WIn 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 @4 X6 L. ?8 q* N& Q3 P9 F
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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.3 ?6 {: q" A6 V, B: e4 {* w
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That 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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"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."! ]: d/ y$ a+ i! p5 m
, w" x' z8 c8 E) L' R+ j+ jThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.6 h8 w2 @6 ~) Y9 r1 t$ Z1 F* @
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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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