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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.
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/ {/ N5 D; n) X. J% i( A: d/ @& [http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html
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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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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.6 L' V' x. B0 o- `
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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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" n# c; R2 R$ gWhy might it be a good time to sell?
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2 T( z$ F& |$ ~- g: |At about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.- } s2 m0 G4 T% a3 s) i
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.4 d" v9 O3 S. r8 r6 ?; @
& X7 \4 t9 @/ M6 C! Y( F"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.. V" F$ h3 R- o
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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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9 N0 Q' L" B8 }2 Z1 jOf 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.0 ]7 `# _* _9 {( O. H7 [
; _( u% N" j" ~. S& v/ F# ]"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.- k4 F! K0 g, `% S! w+ X$ {5 S
( d; L. a# }! |9 v8 M% ^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.7 Q9 f$ l+ \0 V; A
& w U- F7 c. u8 j1 P! jWith 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.! v! x# g1 g4 ?7 a: v
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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.) ?9 _) a0 ^0 W Q2 j
& P2 e, N0 B; w3 N* oMeanwhile, 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.& y/ Y& S/ E, K5 {" k+ [
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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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( Y" Y. ^# m$ j1 Z"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.! j# Q2 n% H K, }4 g! @
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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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6 p2 M7 d2 w0 x% ?, X7 KThe market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
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- T4 E$ A9 u' m% N1 {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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