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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.html0 t) \2 v2 y5 P( D2 v% X) q
- z7 ~; R1 \* POTTAWA - 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, w' {0 P& |( C6 M1 V2 v
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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.( a t9 G: U' v' ~
& `% Q, {5 h7 K3 c) CWhy might it be a good time to sell?
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.4 r1 }/ j+ m, h% @8 y
- [2 p9 K4 X& `: R* {4 }! c# D"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank./ ^, t- _* R$ r7 u# e$ 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.( h# d4 ~; A+ Z6 ?& U8 i
5 o" |1 ~. m2 t9 ]! dThe 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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! O7 u3 M. R G: h+ N$ tOf 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.0 c9 ]: c" j: ]3 A1 j1 _5 Q6 Q* p
' {" ~; ]' i* t& r. F. L, _$ _Burleton knows how they feel.! @( R# H5 t1 p8 W
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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.& E. p7 O; \& N" M/ }& I% t" z" x
1 ]2 p8 S4 g% j; n! }# DWhile 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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% e$ }! X" D4 o0 e9 Z9 x: C; _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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$ l2 G2 v3 T+ a* }3 RAnd 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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- G+ F# [+ }! d2 RIn 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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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.$ _0 x5 _4 T$ W" ~ \) [4 l
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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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2 Q1 }8 Y5 U0 ]+ {& Z+ s, I7 i; }( o' F"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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2 G Z, w4 C8 v% e1 k$ v"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." C( r5 b0 Q& a R1 [! U
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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.$ F9 y2 {/ Q/ W' u5 l% z 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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