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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.5 M. i7 @, }) e% E. L& R& J
& Z: S/ V/ c; s1 K6 Yhttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html* c; \. Q: `4 D- X! s% L
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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.& d" R; F) r. q) B4 @7 d/ X
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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.9 w/ {% z, R( i/ `: x9 q
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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 $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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( O' w" d! c Q# u: S/ ^5 r"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.# v/ z" x. @# S* M6 ~
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The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.
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Of course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.) b% u2 B# h1 u/ F" K3 i
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Burleton knows how they feel.6 d# [! m4 }7 [9 ^" x
: d- r$ H0 `, v& J- o/ J"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.8 U8 \3 ^- L0 x- ^ e
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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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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.3 A4 Y% {8 |0 G2 l/ \
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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. e8 s; B$ M! J6 X
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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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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.
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0 x. i* r2 N; o3 @2 DDavid 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.& H$ t( [. w4 J( j5 J3 X+ R1 Y
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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.$ q. M0 y6 u3 K6 q3 w, n
3 y _3 a: `/ q6 [- b0 y( l"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 J8 e" _4 f2 D7 \( _; T# i
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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.9 ]/ w' R0 J# S0 |3 I
0 I- @; D+ N9 v; eBut 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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