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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.
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9 H2 x4 {) I4 h( w0 Phttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html$ G6 Q* Z. K+ J5 e! Y
" @9 k4 |' T" _# b" @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.
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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. O( c6 O- [$ r& }4 J
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Why might it be a good time to sell?
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.: q- ]9 S$ |2 j/ t
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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.& w/ s% P3 G, y3 P/ }$ w
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.3 Q9 ^3 q" D& \6 t. j
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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.3 o; i# Q; A2 i- U
1 x4 V3 {: L: ]. p) M: k1 u' ^Burleton knows how they feel.
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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./ j. J" C* m+ l5 |: Q+ ]3 N
4 D# k; V' B. `( GWhile 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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: N- E* {9 b) {; Z+ ?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.3 i f, D) M2 {) D( k
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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.
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V! J, [) A6 f6 ^3 }That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.
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" _3 Y* z) W3 J9 K5 d4 D' B( }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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3 A0 i+ \- h& @/ v"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."" J ^& ^/ p5 D( C7 a) ]% |
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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.8 _. A. F! q" w7 u
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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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