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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.html5 q0 ]# |4 b4 }( F8 E$ W! c
N0 n8 g8 f. v; i. e5 s- l( S" ^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.) g" ^7 r+ R! l! t9 q
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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.4 ?! q: a( q5 n8 W2 _2 I
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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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$ A' z* @3 s4 c4 w2 c, ^Why might it be a good time to sell?
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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! B4 `) o* N% P, O, b2 Z"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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( u/ C! ?4 N+ [, hThe profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.0 F p" l* { d% K
7 E3 c3 i' \. W9 A; nOf course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.( R F0 c9 @$ T( j; ~2 F
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Burleton knows how they feel.4 k( |9 U) k- @& R1 \" {
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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.2 b' Y- [+ d9 ?) j s4 p
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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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; K9 {+ f5 X8 O4 W2 N& ?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., \1 b9 @8 ^8 m6 s4 z3 O
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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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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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' _; ^0 L1 y# b# y) o9 N: ^( D7 n; MThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.# C# c( T# z5 f
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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.' I2 K0 V" P) {: e9 {9 `
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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.! ^; M- J0 j( \4 U( t
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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."
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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
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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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