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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖." K+ [: N, s0 x$ R+ v: b
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html6 @8 S3 w+ @# X$ j9 ?# 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.9 u. S: n3 u& |/ ?% h, U% Y( X% f
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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.
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1 E) |0 D' |; q5 b7 cWhy might it be a good time to sell?& T2 E( h/ J/ a# y) p
( E( U: |* N6 L# ^1 F/ u- `' lAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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" z5 c& m, Z8 b9 p4 U$ S"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.1 S, {! n; @# S. ~ H
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.% X# p. K! w" K" `7 |& ?# ^, [$ u
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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.9 m7 W$ {3 @' ~9 x1 u3 L
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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.
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1 t) P3 d! P6 X7 ?4 @* QBurleton knows how they feel.
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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.6 e+ Q5 c+ c1 Q" k# [+ y, L
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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 U k# j; w* S
+ u) E; ]- `! h3 M0 @0 h. G9 yWith 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.
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$ k! _& ~1 p! nIn 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. P2 ?- k# B. V4 E1 I8 e
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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. p5 X; b" g8 ^/ x$ e% c( \. _
6 o! t. _7 T1 M& F: }9 h- @That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying., _2 I5 C" u1 k) ]2 I( W
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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.* Y- E) B3 `4 X4 J
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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.+ l, w/ a# l/ N6 G# P+ a! M
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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."- |( `5 \! J) X; y3 W5 A
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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.! Q, ]& i' r8 ?7 ^$ \! U$ o
; K* V6 P! R2 B. r. c8 rBut 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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