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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
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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." E& p. ?3 A8 z, \
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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.5 C# n8 l# ~! {8 o7 v; s
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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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Why might it be a good time to sell?
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# Q1 U* F, O' X3 W: ]; [3 _At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.9 Y) F! P- o3 {' A) z3 q3 g
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.% `/ [4 K( Y/ O3 a2 O/ }: _
* |7 ]. q6 y, n7 B, O/ s6 j. b1 T"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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, A% G% P' u+ h" l: m6 iThe profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.
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7 b0 j0 \5 z1 O9 B+ uOf course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.
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Burleton knows how they feel.- [ D6 }/ v7 ?. {& }/ F
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"I wouldn't want to sell my home right now even if I wind up taking a hit on the home price, just because I enjoy where I'm living and moving is a pain," he said.
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7 y) v2 |' ]# u+ TWhile there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way.1 c* F) L; c2 M
0 u1 Q6 ?- J1 S1 F$ t" _With 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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' X5 t3 x* ^) @- \7 jAnd 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.0 r0 F1 M: s4 T, }
; |" k* q5 o: sIn 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. c1 n+ Y/ s* z9 g: a% o& 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.
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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.- ^1 z; e# f3 u3 u4 D' u
6 M7 L0 g; x( D, hDavid 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.. R; Y, k+ y4 ^: `6 [0 ]
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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.& F' E; o$ f& {3 N
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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.". |( v2 L8 r/ i1 f, N3 J! P
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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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