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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.html: G* [# g8 M$ g* b" q/ J8 ^2 ~; i7 \
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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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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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% z0 V0 z( a; O dWhy might it be a good time to sell?. C, o/ t) l) L7 c( t
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.: r: l0 T: j7 u$ M' q" d2 s; N1 B
% A3 g# o& @. B"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.$ }$ m. _' h, |# t8 S2 i7 L
& o5 s3 t* Z9 ?7 M( M `# `9 ["If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop. L8 A7 W3 {# H6 {% v* \9 p' K0 A
K7 H. g3 ~) q2 R! F* eThe 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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4 l- N5 C+ K5 s- WOf 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.1 O# L3 }2 I- K
% G% R5 P5 A8 S8 t' eBurleton knows how they feel.+ L; {6 w8 Y! n& o0 }
# ~& y( `, L: W. `% _+ E"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.5 Z" ~- S1 _/ E; ]. d0 T
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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.6 ?; a% s% Z$ @, A' P+ c1 K8 v
& f& w9 U: W# 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.
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- S7 B( w' g# E f% a3 l9 g% z) oAnd 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. }, q7 o2 O5 n m! N8 t
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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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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.+ c, M, N" q+ r# Q
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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.
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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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( T: Z) f' I7 j"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."& H4 f6 M& f5 H$ K. h7 B' W1 \
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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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