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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.( _, Y# H; v& \' Y
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html9 ?" U8 C/ }( @) o% |: D. Z, P
: u3 a! }+ n# Z5 j$ n6 aOTTAWA - 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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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.3 W8 h4 [: S; Z5 p k& d" Q
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Why might it be a good time to sell?8 r" ^' K. \% ~1 f4 ~
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.# s( p' _$ l; K
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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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; k9 g2 v4 a2 E# N"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop., [5 K* q h0 @$ C K
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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.
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8 P' {) f1 ^7 W! \6 l# q- Z# AOf 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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; X: ?/ ]3 D# Q( `; r2 DBurleton knows how they feel.1 L, O) q, _8 H E3 C. \4 }6 M- g6 D
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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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8 ?/ Y" N, Z9 t' w1 z) `" `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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; X" Q; T0 B3 T4 Z5 W1 VWith 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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2 P q; R6 F4 D. n3 z/ pAnd 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.6 Z- \. H0 V" Y! d
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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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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.
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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.. p' X/ T, b! U
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"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.# f; d5 Y0 g8 I7 P* k- s
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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.") T! U! e$ {0 u3 ?: m6 y$ L
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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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