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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( J2 T: [- C8 d
- c5 _8 r& i+ wOTTAWA - 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.; r: G. ^) Z+ }% K
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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.5 }+ q0 B- t/ z0 W1 B
) x. k5 v( f# l7 X' [; f+ [Why might it be a good time to sell?# I4 { w- z- n# c. E& F3 N
* i. b4 Q3 S7 u% N, F# `At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.8 @5 [5 w( p! i
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.7 ~* w. z9 ]. D1 s5 e$ G
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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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Burleton 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.9 n: p! y+ B6 M1 _
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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.( Q' ]) V0 X) T6 m; R' U
& J8 S/ S( j; }3 N8 g0 OWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.1 @; H5 ^+ d* T2 E- W
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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.0 g/ Y3 c! u, i. U- h; ~
" z$ S1 F+ d/ s# E, |7 jIn 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.3 ~3 E* |8 `5 Y+ Z8 l
/ e& B1 y' m2 o6 s3 q6 @# \; \3 D' OMeanwhile, 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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& J* k+ [4 `1 D' q( f$ V# rDavid 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.' W1 e( R1 ^, P7 T- f
/ a2 k9 q0 R5 u, ~8 H( P! F7 L"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.% E9 e( o9 P4 T8 }' M
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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." M7 |2 Y6 E3 A& N4 ~" \
& w) x) e1 k+ @; W- P' ?: V, {" AThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.+ v8 m3 i6 h7 Q3 O& z0 T# z1 |
" E, E$ Y& {/ T7 p. X# P3 MBut 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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