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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.* {0 F: `' A7 k* }
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html0 H# C9 n% @) A* O% k8 ?7 w
% D* A& H: x, S, |6 r6 U; h5 r+ P8 g kOTTAWA - 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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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?0 c0 ?$ x8 B3 ]
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At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.
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5 e u: x9 o- _& m7 Y+ f: v"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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5 Q7 u+ s- T% o, V"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.* u- Q/ t2 t% o0 U
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The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.1 F: y5 F$ s7 K. t
6 j% E8 C3 f4 w& C8 t" F9 v7 u1 WOf 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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( B) l9 U0 ~ d6 }' D5 X$ DBurleton knows how they feel.. H0 H" O; w; \
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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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) O' W) c# F3 H6 pWhile there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way.& J# |) m: L: }$ P, x) _; h
2 b! M; ~7 g, Y# h# gWith ownership levels near a record 70 per cent, demand is expected to wane, making it a buyers market for the first time in years.+ r) N' u$ m) R. z6 {& @ w$ I
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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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8 f1 Q' U( T7 ]" a- P% SIn 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." z2 c) G% P( i2 o1 X
- m2 _* J' J O1 _; @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.
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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.2 Z" Z* T7 w% `! u: n) ] o: z `
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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."' Z4 m0 w! q! `5 N( |
# R0 B# b" W! ?% k, [6 vThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.1 b/ U, k" A: i e
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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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