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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖. |7 z% q4 [6 g. ^0 U4 n* M
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html$ H$ r- H! L" `9 ?. \6 S
( a1 u! c& o! X/ l0 cOTTAWA - 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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( O+ E; P# Q, m' e+ {7 G, Y; f8 B' e7 ePeople 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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Why might it be a good time to sell?
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- a9 u# p' B0 n& ?' AAt 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.2 _0 V; M) i1 B
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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./ o" v- A9 E, H( `4 n- v
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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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- o( ?8 r) J) {! n6 n) ]7 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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4 r" t7 g( Q, j \! _( ABurleton knows how they feel.3 B5 a/ C7 C: ]+ g
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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.1 R- I f! i5 M
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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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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., V, m+ r. {. o j/ r
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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.' m, K/ @8 P+ G
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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.# Q! }" R& b, M
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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./ b, z( Z$ a1 t9 ~' Y
. A8 ^6 g$ a* ~5 M: `& S+ VThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.7 N" W U1 I" g8 E5 y5 q
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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.' w( j; ]9 ?3 m' X% @9 U
" \* d1 V! ~4 q0 ?; h: K"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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+ `) C X8 p7 D" Z' H"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."# t" ]+ v$ l3 V# b) 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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