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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.: Z5 ^2 c9 [( N( ]
) G3 W1 D+ F* P# o6 Y: K: zhttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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, o8 g/ P8 L/ {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.; P+ }+ I7 u' [; b$ w- m0 D# W
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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.4 h* Y3 {1 z) B7 L3 G
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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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0 J2 B: }% S7 h UWhy might it be a good time to sell?! u% b: R" q. |9 y7 `( {7 B& H
% |( I* M. a6 e4 F( O* PAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets. b$ H ?# N* b: e" F6 ~- 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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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop. f# ~) ]0 ]. O2 F( u
I! m! x, @/ I/ D2 Y# E( hThe 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.0 R. V; C& ]" o' Q) p3 s" _
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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.% I, K' s( R) Z6 Y
@8 M- ?$ u: KBurleton 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.
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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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: _- n' N9 k1 @/ |5 OWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.7 ?2 F, N& A/ N+ Q" i1 G0 s
* E1 t. w R* r4 R' qAnd 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.
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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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: g- }' o! U$ y' E0 G) L: a* sThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.
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" k' E0 N) l* a1 X" QDavid 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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1 b# ^* C2 R5 A' c9 S: R9 W"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./ l, Y9 @+ ? j+ I
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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 S$ ^% i7 B; [0 c- W1 z
) I3 {0 c3 d2 ^! ^The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.; o4 W- S& Y4 t' F# {$ Z6 Q6 _( R& w
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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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