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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.
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! j$ _: \8 _1 J/ ?5 w( e. t" m) z9 zhttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html1 |, k0 X: n4 I& C" U7 e1 F- G
5 ~. y: c5 N+ M; Y$ z7 IOTTAWA - 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., F! A: Y |5 `1 G0 Q
, n+ P/ u; e4 IIn 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.4 ?0 A [ f: f" H( {
8 Y* \( M. y$ s+ J. x! TWhy might it be a good time to sell?$ L, o5 p( X1 j; | }. b2 s! X
3 A4 F6 \( ^5 @ n, iAt 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.
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. u% ?5 n! ]: j& W% t" g8 g"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.5 _& E+ t" f9 e; L
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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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Burleton 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.
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- V( n4 v# C3 T- p; N' f( WWith 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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4 y, D( [7 G7 k; E4 [- u$ x' X! u! mMeanwhile, 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.' Y8 I% Y2 w- k; X
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That is a hard indicator that homes are over-valued, but also that renting is relatively cheap compared to buying.0 o" T, _" q* F
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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.$ X# v `4 \! d0 P6 r& C0 P) i- h
9 j; n) u( K) }"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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9 @1 m. W: {0 k! J$ i. n"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."5 F$ D& P4 M2 {9 }5 q
) ]1 c; }" u% j2 oThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
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$ w7 n( o: [8 f( J6 a/ Y$ hBut 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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