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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.; A& b h, Y% O# w/ m1 O- D
7 i, X5 j5 ^7 R$ Khttp://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html9 A5 c; ~6 d2 q
% z' [! f, S# y" c4 {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.
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* u8 y: x2 o% A& B! t) I$ \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.6 v! U3 c2 B3 i6 v
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Why might it be a good time to sell?" U, m+ b( T6 o7 z6 I w* Q
5 T6 R% t" V4 kAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.1 q0 B. W# v' ?
9 C$ g v4 O7 i* D4 ?"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.' J8 T ~7 f$ w( |% ?8 Q
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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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- S: R8 B7 t) u0 D. i6 l: F" [7 ZThe 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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; N0 g+ o }, a: ~8 y; F0 |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.3 f1 q5 b7 [1 ~, ] d/ C% [1 D+ F
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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.; J+ c8 ~) i" o8 n- |; l* o+ E' }
f7 F' {2 X6 v- FWith 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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1 Q/ Q! r ]# I- yAnd 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.% O) A& J0 a# V
" I$ v: n* k* u: j- cIn 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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) T- j, D* G, h% CMeanwhile, 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.9 \" f1 Z, C5 O ]: r: h4 K% q5 l9 `
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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.
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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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9 H) ]7 u6 V& G* O$ cThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.# O) k8 L- p1 B; |
4 I) t2 @. {! Q6 rBut 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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