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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.html
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& N8 B2 {6 P7 U# t$ o- ^* MOTTAWA - 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.
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7 s4 V* f- E( B0 lIn 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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5 I `( O V; Q! r+ j& K$ X# KAt 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.' Q6 J# o/ l: {2 e& b6 |6 |) D
7 N1 m% O5 ]7 l9 i2 b"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' G2 d# {. b6 o2 n/ o/ W% i* F
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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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# |7 F+ ?/ \7 ^1 y, [7 S. c) J' nThe 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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: s) o2 n3 L' D- sBurleton knows how they feel.
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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.. R0 z/ D* j" H- ]6 m
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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.6 `. D0 t) H7 ]! ?
" Y1 A( |) E/ q+ ?) S& NAnd 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.' y/ I$ P- E# t+ X3 X. B, e
9 ~6 z! k8 g4 X, l1 H! x$ @! C" EIn 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.' x! G& P% c; m3 o4 ^5 m0 o# O7 p
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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.! {) [! J, t4 c* L6 s; u
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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.& a$ p6 g! n$ B5 D$ @7 w
/ K7 Z0 S1 x, Q( {& a- m/ N"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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5 x; ?0 Z# r: K% a: A8 I1 t3 p' D6 UThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
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+ u! S7 [+ F9 ^! nBut 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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