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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.
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- Y( D& p/ c7 o5 Bhttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html( o4 W. V1 }# |9 ? N
: [- U) z. c7 U1 iOTTAWA - 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.& [+ k$ J: r- i/ `& w
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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.2 b( K! P( `& u) l: h/ m: P
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Why might it be a good time to sell? F. j& H" i0 `4 u! w; H
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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0 ]* X3 j) u0 k, M! W"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.5 F( ^/ {+ E4 b. B1 ~
4 H1 S- f" T- [+ G! r"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.' l5 c6 g9 W( Z/ V- e* m* S
7 F+ P' p- @# X- nThe profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.
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Of course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.2 H& ^- H' q9 A$ s. x
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Burleton knows how they feel. M( e s3 _5 C: N' o; P
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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.( @; e5 J, l1 N" g( x
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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.$ o3 I# e9 B' W5 {: |8 S" r5 o
" u, K4 `$ l' K0 gWith 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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u% U" }: H4 q5 P$ xAnd 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.+ Y' m$ @( `! r; Y0 A( 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.
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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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9 U K ], o7 @1 Q5 f3 uThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.3 r! X) X$ V* B( T# h l0 T
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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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# K$ M& b& i) T) K+ B"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.# G, {1 f' f+ b3 J: s+ G
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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."3 t1 I3 w) ~6 ^4 H) @% a
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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.+ T3 R: s% p4 }
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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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