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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.& ?# y2 ]4 R8 O2 W, t$ J
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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.
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7 h/ Z( W' T4 t0 rPeople 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 Y+ ?7 L* |
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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 y" r7 ]- [+ m; \# Y* y& T5 H
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Why might it be a good time to sell?5 i# e; K$ d+ O
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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* a; h5 k6 L; T1 B3 J% S"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.
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The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.3 W$ [% N) N# a1 T) `, P" ?$ E
! y/ @( P, _+ v' K! XOf 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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: F6 F w2 f; fBurleton knows how they feel.
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( N5 |) ]; l; _* z/ t"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.7 Y3 A4 W6 y) x+ g; @: a1 w: ]
9 x* L6 t$ b; N) ?. n& h5 X; T# 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.. {6 Y* T3 t6 r$ B- k7 ^) V
1 F1 I1 ?- f' ZWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.- ~4 ]$ V# z# K( O
& H+ p5 G4 L* a$ c0 k* f3 ]) `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.
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/ V: d' a. f$ Q! e# x6 s6 d& yIn 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.' p$ E$ F4 x% p( j
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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.2 E% O9 d( @& p: g9 m
9 z! {7 ~9 f- T. T3 pThat 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.2 K r0 s/ d# H" @/ G
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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, l& e# U( u
9 `4 G# F+ o% P( y; aThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.; a& ] R2 F: P+ x, D+ e
5 e6 v1 X) i# w+ T: [. o0 J# \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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