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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.
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$ u+ Z: ~8 [, {! t2 o: vhttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html0 Q) U9 s2 u/ o% w# ^
- z6 C' m# t. z7 z) AOTTAWA - 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.4 ~9 N3 I: l* a5 J, R( S7 R
+ S( g2 Z# L+ u1 a7 w% f) ^1 U( ^+ a5 pIn 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.1 l: v+ Y7 c: L' m& P6 {
+ O5 I# G |8 D- M2 X- L ]Why might it be a good time to sell?
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5 v. o* ]/ B( ^+ w; d4 {* lAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank. {$ i& X; Y, `- t- K
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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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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./ i( T# ~, q4 v ]7 y+ _9 N0 J6 M; A
& |5 u/ ?; x7 H* k: eOf 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.* ~4 P2 |, o! Q+ d5 ]! \/ o8 i
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Burleton knows how they feel." K2 c9 N! ~" R: ]
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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.: E* R$ c: v: N! Y$ L( Y9 C
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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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+ v: g" Y" Z- j" Y" K+ C+ UWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.- W" r" O3 b3 a
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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.) u% t: K a O+ C3 I. [. x
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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.; L+ Q. ]0 Y/ Y. \0 n0 X
8 c" @" O2 r9 D3 FMeanwhile, 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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6 O }/ ^- H/ f+ `) Q$ [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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; ?: b; \- h3 d"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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5 V, T% }$ s; y8 i Z. d* ["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."2 Q( `" j% Y9 K; U
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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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2 N! O8 H# A" t/ V0 U6 jBut 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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