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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.# ~$ ?: p1 j, P5 j. k* X- i- d
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html, j5 ^/ G3 q4 B
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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.# O4 T6 o$ l$ R/ R* {. }7 Z) ]' O
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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.6 B \# C4 I4 e: T1 J# B( l
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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.: @8 g' _3 A: c) b# w: U5 L6 Q' ~
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Why might it be a good time to sell?, l$ H- Z8 p# p/ P
: P3 u& ^+ R5 o" L$ c+ u+ LAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.1 x0 H# f; y, x9 Z) ]
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.' Z9 [. V2 c$ G% y0 I6 P
# m% s9 R0 I f, S( r* Q9 t"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.0 j1 w; d7 W. x3 b 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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7 B- Q6 I8 g- R4 uBurleton knows how they feel.
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" W. R: B% [) m"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.# F% g: n0 z I9 _% J2 X, Y1 I
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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.% M+ Q! _% Y( h1 s0 y
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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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: e/ }) z, f! C6 \1 V! \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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; U! O9 z) W4 f4 X* [0 N1 B2 vMeanwhile, 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.1 A. `& h' {, L( \! x$ V
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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.- U B+ H. B: m. H. Z6 D
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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.": x1 x, C9 a- ^
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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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, k% D' _0 k N( k8 S- }' [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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