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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.
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% d/ U, @% D; V# p6 T0 ^6 Xhttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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" |9 X* j) ~+ r! E3 U; Z* NOTTAWA - 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.8 | q# i4 @& f: x0 k/ u( E
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Why might it be a good time to sell?0 y, K; y6 d i; [1 \# U6 H! q
9 n7 d" D0 R8 ]0 S+ h% C- KAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.) h% h( k0 t) l* A' H* e+ \
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.! p6 Z4 V7 b5 x1 `; N1 B" Q, j
8 S+ s) m" _/ e# M/ T"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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% h0 T: v7 @. e8 t5 [The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.
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0 Y: X. n% o% ~) s4 g V6 M7 HOf course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.
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* o1 {, z* N: A8 T. b# D/ Y+ MBurleton knows how they feel.1 X& W6 c; m9 v+ F6 E
Z) a+ c8 i" g! H( a- o1 C0 m"I wouldn't want to sell my home right now even if I wind up taking a hit on the home price, just because I enjoy where I'm living and moving is a pain," he said.
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While there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way.5 K- |- ~8 e- e- G: k$ N$ l# K
q' b& _ L! y! N# ]# M, ~6 `. ^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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" ]9 V3 v; |! w; vAnd 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.8 p4 T% j3 W: G
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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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" Y" }2 o: B# V, o: `( k3 A5 A/ g* @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.
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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.
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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."* i! Z* e: i" x; w% T6 l
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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.) g8 t1 U4 }, j }, i! F
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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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