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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖., \ P% C4 ?0 c; {+ c
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html- N7 Z" O: g, | T, Z# u
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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.# ^8 \/ `2 L& e
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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?9 d7 `% w# l* z
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.8 k0 b6 f- h k- {* Q
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.( J4 i; T+ }" n. M
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.5 i5 e g" ~# m+ Q$ ?2 `, k$ Y; u! b
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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., H0 S- s! U0 ~2 Z
/ T: ~2 }0 u" [5 t# u7 c yOf 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.. e1 b- A! |7 D! r# c
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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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; D2 a6 |, ]" A8 @+ R/ ]3 QWhile there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way.4 a+ B3 P; _0 H1 P4 @4 B! r
5 Y9 {5 V b0 iWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.( m' w3 S2 z( z3 a! u: O2 C2 H
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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.8 m+ h9 z( o( N: k
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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.
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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.. [9 V6 _. n; K. `
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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."
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, V( U7 I) ~6 {+ c0 CThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
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: f& Q) \' k& S8 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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