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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.2 Z3 M f$ O$ H( t" m8 K7 [
; V1 I v$ k. G. bhttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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( c- h* C( [* j V: K' _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.6 U" o* F% s' W! p9 E6 T2 C
3 X% }& @# E/ B/ 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.
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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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7 V; ^! M% d( X: L7 @Why might it be a good time to sell?: L4 [% z1 S* D1 e; l* l5 _% p
3 I' t, K/ N3 N, q* ?At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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: t4 l4 j+ ?7 h+ ~6 R$ E- s( y& O"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.& S& k$ E% ]" u4 d4 p+ H
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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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6 d- s3 Y, J0 [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.9 Z$ Q# s& X1 \3 m
5 [3 _, t# }( A! g) F, R! Q6 kBurleton knows how they feel.
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- G& q9 g" B) Y; @1 p0 x"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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4 P2 X1 B5 `. w( O n. P6 LWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.( g# R8 E2 D5 {7 C* y
; d+ F6 P$ g. L: G: \! u. a3 w2 ^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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8 }) ]9 B6 |. L- g. R( AMeanwhile, 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.- g' \( z2 C- [1 K& C& N9 A- w
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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying." e) [8 h' E) y0 Y' [* ]6 B( D. x 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.
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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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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.7 c/ I8 P f% T' n
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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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