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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.! ^0 c- m6 c8 b9 W2 z8 E) ^ T
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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5 {3 p1 g) ~( g7 t. R7 ]% COTTAWA - 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.1 O7 E$ t0 n V$ l- h5 W
& @- d) D' r, h5 Z7 |1 |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 U; i1 x; l* {' }. s$ k0 j
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Why might it be a good time to sell?1 ?$ \, {, v8 C
, t. x0 k3 d9 b5 H$ K) nAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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+ u0 m: k' ~% E* R) \; P, g' _4 J# ["Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.$ h8 f& j6 z E( t% U% F/ S' k
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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.
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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.; H8 b/ R: ]. Y" T# A* i
& p0 t8 s* I/ X4 _& {Burleton knows how they feel.- i( Y# S& d+ w& y. I k
, K: l) ]9 O6 b/ ~; @; p8 u3 D"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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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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# S& p8 v& T2 w# DAnd 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.) ^% g; l' f) T: h
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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.0 K# Q0 l7 v7 r) W$ d5 [- Z
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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.& `0 ]" B- h1 X6 c$ p% M
/ F) c, `- d! i4 k3 L8 tThat 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.3 v7 x; R9 I! ?( Y/ A$ @) J
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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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a- C9 `- i2 G. r"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."! U' p2 o" L) c+ e4 i
, H) _( v9 M7 H8 }& a* N! YThe 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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