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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.7 C# j! C+ M' J1 n
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html" e2 Z% W7 z J
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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. Y) @5 ~ j8 b. R) `
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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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Why might it be a good time to sell?; E. R" c; g* [: T! ]7 x
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.6 w" y1 A/ n0 M0 ?5 s8 l5 y( j
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.+ q" U r. @, q( \* J
: u$ b0 Y3 \0 F8 ?0 f8 ^1 x"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.3 Z- Q2 G: x7 |) W
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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.
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Burleton knows how they feel.
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3 z( b5 D* y8 n' D, m8 o. t"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.% p2 l$ y4 a5 }& A+ v6 C7 X( a. x
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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.: [& I5 J: i# Q0 K e5 X# M
0 C# h9 W' P; r2 W( D5 ]% s& e/ kWith 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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4 ]- {" x& r9 d+ L* GAnd 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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: H; M% ]/ J" ~' lMeanwhile, 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 r3 B& B/ |
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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying., O8 I+ `. n/ p$ C0 o
. V! y) l3 _- D- n& A, 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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; D! O' O0 I$ q* W! l- w: K+ b1 e9 u"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.") a# [, K4 D4 Z2 B
8 I7 j% @" P3 X$ O/ U! ^4 N; X* W+ ZThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.% [& z1 {$ t: z" @ y
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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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