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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.html
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4 V, k0 i( m5 P5 J6 n Z) z5 LOTTAWA - 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.0 i. {6 e8 W/ y9 n
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Why might it be a good time to sell?$ l" [, {1 V) H* s3 H
+ y u6 t4 }6 t2 CAt 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.& a9 t& ^8 `/ E: _( X
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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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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.; S% O' l/ l- _# K& t
5 B# ?# J7 b! q4 X \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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# B0 i, u n0 Y3 rOf 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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Burleton knows how they feel.# W5 X& c; ~' o! X. s P8 g. j/ [
( B7 U, `; Y1 Z5 v"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.( ~/ K9 O# I/ s1 ?" N, }
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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.. Y9 k W+ d3 p9 x( W: |# q
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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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% D, T; G3 l" ~& 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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! |" O2 }8 ?0 B, vIn 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.. D1 P. A% J, { A: @" L! ?6 e
! B' n9 \" E/ LMeanwhile, 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., N2 h& Z f, O; g E8 a9 U/ V+ H
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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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0 m- ^. U* c4 ~# y"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."7 d- d( `$ k) |+ D0 g
) d9 ?1 e, f/ s; DThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.; \& T7 ] t3 D% G5 S8 Q- z/ b- t
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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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