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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html1 u& K% j. t. K
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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.6 e2 a ^ N2 n* N7 T
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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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8 K; i& [& ~3 u0 J3 e* [Why might it be a good time to sell?# x: d) J/ F2 g) V% ?! U
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets./ t, X2 J* ^3 X% y. H
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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v/ n8 e# j9 e0 `+ Y"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop. B; W7 E+ J. H m; j0 K
" Y: _9 R, s( p; G& H4 ]; a) uThe profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.( x* f! \1 z( e. a
0 u6 r9 V/ ^ T4 k( B% cOf course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.
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* q5 p: E! s* @! v$ {! N8 BBurleton knows how they feel.; O/ y; L J, h; x7 R
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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.8 b% w' G% y" I/ X& O
, c& T% Q* F/ }% M* ]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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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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. Q: M' s; }& O/ z( wIn 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.- v d T+ U) \, K; I% }
e4 O: e' F3 ?/ G+ i7 \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.3 A2 I" q, C* O2 @+ t
: X8 r a; d* g% u- FThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.
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. {" K1 Q5 R: e5 o; [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.( K# a% D6 @8 ?, a0 W
9 a+ d- }, m7 j9 @0 g9 b* b"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." H1 v' Q& d0 L4 F% O! Q) q4 t
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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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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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