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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.0 D3 S, {4 W" A4 ~
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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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." v$ {* |9 m' y1 j- ^4 L- c
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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.5 q' c/ B. T, f2 R! N
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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?
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" f6 @5 }' U8 G# N% M0 b5 T, QAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.- N! R* J+ k8 o* j' h$ y: F
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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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5 J& ~3 t" N5 q"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.5 e, [& k. ~! D6 g1 w
5 Q3 ]$ l- d; c8 O# k7 }& O$ EThe 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.1 R* N1 ~' v1 i4 k- [( ^
& J4 S M8 {& H"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.! \/ K: G; }& L
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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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. L7 |0 R! y, 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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' i4 g8 r! h# N; H5 zIn 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., Q4 z$ T0 y# \1 t' |3 f# c* {
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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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9 E2 o! u" E* t4 L9 vThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.2 m# _& p; c7 |) L" \% a
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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$ n3 P/ `- U6 h
- r" {9 {0 @' N. e) U3 `8 \, V3 V6 N"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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" g+ f Z) Z- A/ x, S"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."9 K: g- ~6 J* b1 e) V2 Q1 G, k
9 o) \ k# b5 N; I+ ]The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
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: v( q# B8 z: h; D+ xBut 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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