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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.html9 j( @0 j! e8 ~6 v
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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.$ m' L5 i# M/ g0 U, I8 W5 o
; e( T' y! z/ ^7 ?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.
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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.0 e) d9 P% z* Z: t& j- f- v' x
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Why might it be a good time to sell?! D! r! @$ B- ]9 W, m/ c/ F
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.( \1 B5 y5 }7 Q, [$ P
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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.. A+ |3 i( w" j
" s. C* S( L" a1 i# u, O2 f"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.
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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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! `1 t& u3 @7 a* i, FBurleton knows how they feel.2 l9 `) w. o8 k5 p
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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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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.
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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.5 S+ l9 w' _) B: I- @9 l) G7 v
5 u+ s4 `- s, F* r1 x+ O# p% o# WAnd 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.4 y9 ]+ h5 [* ^+ [/ x7 o% q3 J
1 B R# F5 F" p( ^: ^9 ~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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, {) Y6 l3 R6 ]/ G- d L4 Z3 t# tThat is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.+ [. i ~$ j$ e
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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.% o) y( u$ n) d; t
* z- k8 J( L( n/ l" e) z1 m' P"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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2 k. E" }5 v6 W! E" GThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
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1 O! S% w3 t" D0 A3 S' vBut 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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