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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.
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+ _. A* j" A# u5 ahttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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OTTAWA - 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.) y$ ^ y }6 c
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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.% p: [0 L( W, i" ^ M( C, ]6 O& F8 u
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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. I0 L l& @9 a9 S# X
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Why might it be a good time to sell?
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.; O) V, A- k" u) H$ o, ~% s
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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.4 v* K4 }' D8 v+ t+ y) x' ^( W, E
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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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8 r& l) ?/ x+ h. {$ C) V% Z C& wThe 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.& U3 I5 j) b/ t1 U: |
9 w% B" S4 m& d% a: U o9 l: nOf 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.- a. E+ b! |# d4 ]5 {3 x. W
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Burleton knows how they feel.4 L" ?: ]$ w/ d2 t; s# \# [6 p
0 M' ?3 ~- ^; _"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 j6 r$ I: f+ _2 KWhile there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way.3 A7 F9 M) c. l' j* K
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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.
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# ]3 C" K/ Y- \7 r( n AAnd 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.! T% `2 q* _: o
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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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7 _9 ]! j3 K% F V/ ^' K6 U* @That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.1 h4 c/ I3 v/ ~" L- d
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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.+ ~" R n9 w: {; Y: z
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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." h& F% q' S! F
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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."
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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.7 Q% ~9 E+ C9 m6 |/ [4 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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