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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.* n2 T: [7 A8 p5 q1 ]& e6 q8 x. p7 ~
% o& g4 j" ]$ l( Shttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html5 b# w) f+ f( q( i
# \5 k( s6 \' N" |$ T ]* q% d; FOTTAWA - 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 Z. X* N A) j l5 g2 G
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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.) q: k+ e& y& V( ?' d8 Z
: w" I I* A6 t+ eIn 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?5 V4 R. C1 z: I6 ^) t" E* g# `+ d
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.+ g6 |* k- f0 z9 D
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.4 A" _7 f0 d8 |' c( p! a
. N0 q: ]) @- ^% X8 e( OOf course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.! T% r9 P* u: D
% h; C1 {" z) h' k `. GBurleton knows how they feel.# q2 k, F1 x- ^/ b; c7 R
6 M9 w* o$ T( H8 V2 F9 k0 L9 s"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.1 L. O& x- v" {* t3 n8 {! ]
$ y H1 ]5 t1 h/ v" TWhile there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way.- z: y- n$ L% Z( \: E
3 h* X5 `/ K* ^% kWith 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.+ i/ w7 l9 E2 h% n9 E! h
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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.# g, f( t6 j) y' [& O! c$ q
- ^- q0 b6 P( d5 H4 `7 gThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.) }9 i0 r+ f" S7 Y; F
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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.
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/ d2 N4 A) \+ {# A: E! [" ["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.$ U0 {* }8 n0 Y. x
* N# j# l. j$ V# _/ i1 e& s+ O( x"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."4 ~: ]- W# f" y' }/ O1 t: O
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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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