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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.- [/ a& `5 T! G2 ^% [+ P5 k
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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7 m, @$ \7 C/ s; A" GOTTAWA - 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.2 I, Q7 M, k2 R6 ~9 W- r- @
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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.8 r1 s" u8 t1 {
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Why might it be a good time to sell?, {5 I; u2 y0 }+ K
7 p @7 b/ _" y. ^" o, R; b! v8 e3 AAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.& S. A5 h' W# h1 x& J2 M. C9 ^& A
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.7 _( c% J" k4 N2 _4 }7 G+ }( m2 k# `
6 ?; o8 F1 o- Y& Q7 H9 o"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.5 e7 _$ c( k0 n; x+ Z( E( h! i
/ @' H! u1 N X% i( t \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.
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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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6 [$ e1 l5 _' _$ k, d; NBurleton 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.
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+ u* O. q# G4 O; a9 N, l. `0 X' A2 nWhile there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way.; h/ k; Y3 v: j2 ~; \& g0 c# O
" `. u3 b; Z, MWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.9 N/ e& ? Q$ a! c B
3 v' J9 ~9 N+ ?# ]& _+ J* tAnd 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.6 ?5 Z3 t$ Q/ T8 x# j
. C% ?/ y; g+ {0 qMeanwhile, 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.) B5 J1 Y: V, a
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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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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.; e* s; U! J# m4 L
* Y3 e$ T/ q0 @+ M5 x8 b"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.% o: [# s T0 \/ k) l5 n: U- \3 s& a
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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.". n+ `; e# \ J) V
. x+ ~1 B$ S- f8 b0 Z) d& z8 _/ FThe 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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