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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.9 k R3 b+ f$ s
4 ^% V" `* {, s+ E/ _! A* Y1 ohttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html$ o8 T# H6 Z$ n$ N$ c- n
2 @: C% W4 S1 G" jOTTAWA - 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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Why might it be a good time to sell?$ K6 Q( e6 Y1 _# P
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.7 W. H: H3 ~0 t& N" j
5 x$ z3 q. e$ X9 I$ A+ |+ \; ~"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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' {5 v/ Z- f: A8 U0 g8 ~"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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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.) j& i- ]% @% A. L* _; h
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Burleton knows how they feel.( u. I3 C" q3 z Q4 X; g
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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.: W. |$ l& ^* j; k6 y9 v0 M% L
8 x* l, E# G/ X6 \# S2 dWhile 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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5 N* o" ?. K7 p* k/ {3 uWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years./ o/ _/ ` @ \ p% [& M
# j: r1 v- _+ R6 ?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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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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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., K+ K* @" S6 s. b% o
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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.: N; o" i; D4 |# \( g, l( \
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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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( l4 p/ [# ]' k1 I/ ^- x"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.
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3 w# u% t% k4 q6 w" k7 U: x# EBut 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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