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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖./ b( W7 z( w j$ ^$ i" n* }
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http://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.
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) U$ F D3 [4 @9 x y8 LIn 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.' ?% y$ e( W, G: A% v: T% m2 n
! P, K3 R* W, B& c! i8 sWhy might it be a good time to sell?( |$ V& A2 q) i$ l8 \
: f" S3 Q5 _# mAt 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.- o. C4 r2 R3 t( D- \( P3 s! \& y: H
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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.* O6 z( @1 Q3 ` Q* `
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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.- s1 c3 J6 X( h
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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." l% x7 m$ I, |2 T; {
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Burleton knows how they feel.
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0 x1 g3 @# E$ p+ _2 g- |* K"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.: v) q- `4 g! H3 h1 r' 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.9 Y$ w2 p: C0 ` T
5 i5 J q" {6 S) ?# 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.
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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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: f4 p( y7 e/ _( VIn 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.' B5 q) T3 o, ~3 k( G
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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.0 _5 R2 i/ g6 Z% s
! I; b3 t6 x- S c. ^That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.
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v: x% o9 }% \7 V* A: FDavid 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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"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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! G: r/ Y% d2 G8 X"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 {: ^; ~' m* I/ V- X- c, N
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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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