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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.+ H+ W/ ^7 Z4 ]7 [
; y+ r2 J2 t {" Q6 o, y! L% Ohttp://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.# b7 j% A* A3 m1 V
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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.4 N: o! p9 n4 H( W5 B8 n
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Why might it be a good time to sell?3 a, U( x. k9 z2 `
& u* [. C5 q, r* {; `* FAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets. z* F, g1 J% V3 y C2 L& K' N# l5 t
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"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop. n4 _ {1 h3 ^% ?
' |4 k% _' U8 ^, a+ c0 AThe profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.3 v7 \# V e- G/ Y) I. s4 y4 A
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Of course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.
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Burleton knows how they feel.
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. F. J; B. S( s) x: I"I wouldn't want to sell my home right now even if I wind up taking a hit on the home price, just because I enjoy where I'm living and moving is a pain," he said.
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7 \9 h2 G* x uWhile there's no guarantee of a correction, observers note there are additional signs that the housing market could cool off in a big way./ h y8 r R3 U, o& w) _0 k
( w8 D7 P4 b$ ?5 @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.9 I, a! U: e8 R7 H8 z% E, ]
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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.; j2 I1 a: }- Z8 V* P" K# P# R
, A6 a! @9 D* o, h8 |* bIn 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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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.3 l7 ~* S% [8 l; ^& n
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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.9 ]- l) |( X {1 {2 i. F9 d
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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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The market is clearly at or near peak, he said, so soon may indeed be the time to act.
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: q: Y0 ]1 R7 i' wBut 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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