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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.3 j7 h. q/ ?9 D9 z
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html8 h, Z4 [! W' [ q
8 z- _, L5 X: d- dOTTAWA - 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.; {- t) E, R; n' i. H5 e
' b) ~3 \2 K0 k/ V* p: o9 PPeople 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.- o" v- l8 F5 U9 Q! k' ^9 H
; G+ M" p1 S+ V4 \6 q* d4 `" _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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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.) ?; K+ S1 {+ d6 j. E. @- ?, d
, U' v* v X- E/ P' {"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop." C. E4 H) b0 M; m$ K
( k/ \4 K+ {) C$ AThe 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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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.1 _9 D! O. \% ~0 J6 d
0 _ |# c9 K8 g$ R# d"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.: _( M9 R# `$ X1 E3 o3 [) Y- z2 U
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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.9 M8 T9 w1 G5 w
" W# g5 M5 ^4 _! b% @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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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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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.. y' [0 @. ~- M$ U7 P
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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.( i3 |* C6 ~, Q M4 Z
4 W7 K# r- A- yDavid 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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- E! w" k) r4 [" z0 R% m9 q" q( }$ Y B"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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# B! Y$ } p; V, k* L5 x"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."3 j+ `/ `/ Z. d+ n9 K f- R
6 C! H* Y8 u! F ]! k1 ]The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act./ g9 x/ F! I; ?9 W w+ W7 }7 T
4 ~, D8 v8 J8 ~- YBut 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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