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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.
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+ j, X4 U" R& Jhttp://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.* D9 w- {& h/ t
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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.
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2 {, k7 v" I+ N( }: @# dWhy might it be a good time to sell?! T: n p( R. Z
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.; N2 i% L8 Z7 U& d4 `' x
% @& l$ M' m6 N2 [: w$ X. R7 f/ f" h"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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/ U. W- t+ N# Y6 k! p- {$ V9 u"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.% y7 r( @* O/ g) ?% R
$ `2 P6 [( ?6 j8 U, z. bThe 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.; g; p5 j4 ?; S# a8 x& s
9 L) e; I+ t: {Burleton knows how they feel.: m# e0 s& s" J; y N/ T' Z% C
1 r% v e6 L) 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.
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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.
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: D+ K, ~, f& Y2 OWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.( T* R U* \8 ?0 ~
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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.
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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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G( E5 E% `" d- mMeanwhile, 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.$ {" D8 j( p6 r% n
* F# h$ J# E4 \6 ^That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying., R1 z% v! ^$ z6 Y; W
, O4 O9 d" e" r o" ^4 I( g% g6 BDavid 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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' Q& l5 I R+ q8 F& t# e+ ^8 E"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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( |* }' K$ q; s$ [ y+ K% E"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."& D6 G7 u) z6 H6 N/ t
$ b6 w' |% H' r( m$ SThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.& B; q! g# e4 o0 |0 M- d
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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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