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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; l# m6 u5 Z9 p9 |$ x" x
. K6 Y) g9 m: s3 V5 o4 DOTTAWA - 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.' v" z. P) c# {; G5 T
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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.9 Y0 _' i# {* z
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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.) r0 n( G4 n) H
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Why might it be a good time to sell?& e/ b% h) A+ u$ `) }
! ~& w! g9 d$ p+ f) dAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.4 r+ @9 ~; t" ]; E
4 H& r2 a; b- N8 B L4 u4 H"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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* N: A$ o% ]8 J, iThe 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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3 c) z; j; F( z: C0 YOf 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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- Y1 l; o- L" fBurleton knows how they feel.
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' j, |; X4 \8 N0 E"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.1 I% B9 L" A, u, _0 ?2 f3 g, b
: U3 e9 j& X6 B3 JWhile there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way.
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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.' m1 J% R3 d! n6 ?7 @
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And 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.( g! K ]6 i& r+ g- ^4 V
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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." c3 {1 x7 e1 f* J$ X/ E8 L
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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.( {$ Q) c7 Y2 j/ Q3 z6 A! N6 [6 G- C
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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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" z8 a. @9 N# @4 q4 {. I"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. j) {# ]# D3 u- j4 _+ c
, Q g; a# ^0 K"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."! d2 r, ] \1 I* b3 K* r2 l
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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.5 R7 J: `( O) d V1 Y1 T8 A# M
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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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