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欢迎讨论, 但千万别拍砖.# C9 r2 f9 l. i
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http://www.globalnews.ca/money/w ... 42638608/story.html! \! a5 f# A) [0 G; X% X* D
# y5 Y) O/ J8 O: I8 `; ?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 a. P7 j4 ?' ~1 X6 u; j
5 w& R4 Z) |' `& W& @/ k6 j1 i) uIn 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?* M& Q+ Q3 J: _. C( u
. `+ u& H% s4 M/ E8 y1 J6 ZAt about $370,000 average nationally — and just under $800,000 in Vancouver — home prices are already at record levels. Many observers believe prices are long due for a downward correction of anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, perhaps more in some of the hottest markets.2 Q3 _& w7 I# V, x
6 e6 f2 G: L- k) T& s"Home prices to income, housing price to rent, all the indicators are setting off warning signals," said Derek Burleton, a senior economist with TD Bank.
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"If you are purely in it for reaping profits, now is not a bad time to sell" before prices drop.5 ~* ~1 A4 c5 K1 s
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The profits from selling a home can be used to build savings, eliminate debt, make traditional investments or, ironically, buy more real estate — albeit in a different market where home prices are lower.7 A [/ G) ]# Y* y3 u0 n/ z) I
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Of course, even if it makes sense financially, selling the family home to rent or move to a less expensive housing market doesn't make lifestyle sense for the vast majority of Canadians.
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Burleton knows how they feel.9 C! z% z F8 ~: t* a
9 R. |$ m, R! U: d! H6 N$ M"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.( r5 L5 u7 i; y# G" C2 ? e
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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.) Z5 [: a) d5 H5 X) G, @8 o4 d
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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.3 o" f# J) j0 H K% `: G
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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.1 ~5 D+ c+ y7 ~( D5 W# ?
& r! O) p- {( c! P F# OIn 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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; N# V0 {1 Q& E8 f5 G; P2 t: 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.) a. X# R! W, U) A5 j# F
m1 B5 _4 a/ a0 _8 M; ^( SThat 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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3 g* Z7 Y3 E" c5 g. r: _$ A"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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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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