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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.- Y& a% R9 N- ]0 w$ y
& f! ^" o" b* S8 S9 A8 _7 hhttp://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.
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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.% X8 A+ H$ v* n
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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.' c; s, Y3 l# X$ {( B: Y
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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 $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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) B" B! z3 i9 y# Z"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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! u6 B* D: F$ r5 x2 T. {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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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. x$ P: `; u0 \: \
[. u! R; L9 ]( z' kBurleton knows how they feel.7 ]* `( E9 \. Y% D3 H
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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.
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+ d3 _# R" z; ]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.0 w! e8 |* T0 t5 m% H K& p
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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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% h( b4 j' Y' a% `2 OAnd 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.; N" q5 \" T+ [# i; 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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; H* M( p$ g8 W/ g# q8 l/ pMeanwhile, 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.5 D$ k( R- D4 k4 w: i' I& q
4 l+ s4 y/ ^- P% f* H5 Q- kThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.
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* Y" E9 {( G# {6 c1 _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.4 Q* |: `. h- v+ `+ @6 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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"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."0 J* J0 C8 i. u' E7 [$ p
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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.2 V+ E9 P; _7 B- _. y! c5 _ }) |0 w0 ~( }
8 L' E/ \' e1 `( q6 h! L$ KBut 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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