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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.* O- ?7 l: E" [# X
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html# `& P" s2 I+ y" p3 [# j, A
1 v5 \ \: I( ]8 ?. BOTTAWA - 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.& `( u1 u+ G- K7 ]/ I8 Q$ y
7 d: U' J0 y: D4 w8 N' ^' EPeople 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./ v0 _+ e6 Y1 f' ^' w
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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 r$ T3 z2 n- W/ R& G* [
3 M& k- _0 v6 R7 z! a' IWhy might it be a good time to sell?
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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0 F% k% a2 z3 x- {- Z: y"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.1 V1 D% C3 \/ o8 h6 R% z
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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; [9 n$ h" c3 w8 b9 W- r% QThe 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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6 M% O d2 h5 v8 z& s8 }( y# JOf 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.$ |0 [5 y% K2 `7 h
: x8 d5 }0 |6 E% R, v) EBurleton knows how they feel.1 L* H" P/ N0 j- r
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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.% k" Z0 `1 Z! g0 f. W$ v1 u
$ }0 a5 I$ r" w4 D# u. jWhile 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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( o0 X) G, _$ {3 rAnd 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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3 V4 \6 T# {& l6 Z. E* zIn 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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& I: T9 T5 d# o- Q$ 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.- s+ I7 b; s! J4 @; n
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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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" z( E3 x) g% C' h- j. bDavid 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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& Z8 U& M. f9 u( x' p0 n"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 _4 {' Q" G& t% a5 i
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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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8 v& e2 J( {# L$ D' CThe 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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