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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.$ Y# R7 p" @- Y- j
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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$ s: v' c0 ^' Z; vOTTAWA - 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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( `3 W9 M3 I) _3 t( s- p9 s$ FPeople 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.: h' `/ E3 h5 o8 Z* h; u3 B
! ]% J5 Q. N/ N: d; a4 CWhy might it be a good time to sell?
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.% F. \5 G& U" \- W( Y. G
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.% _0 w/ [( y, N+ p2 H3 ^
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The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.
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- B$ k& e" i: R9 t. A1 e; K: WOf 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 Q& i7 ^- B2 g( {: c) fBurleton knows how they feel." U) z+ s3 _" U, p
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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.
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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.! B0 o5 p- J% k9 M& t
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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.0 r/ n9 y+ f/ `9 o; }
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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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/ I. t0 B2 T7 n% PIn 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.1 B7 V, v, {5 O% i6 j
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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.5 Q u1 ?' m1 A; C+ Y5 E9 p& ^! g4 Z$ G
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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.+ V. T' o$ }5 _0 G+ h
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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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"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."0 f8 A4 s3 l; \
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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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+ d. U+ O+ w8 n* [# gBut 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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