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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
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The Crown corporation warned that some moderation can be expected in the once red-hot housing sector for the rest of this year and into 2009. ) e5 s! m( b( z ]' |% w' w2 |
' m6 o3 H3 W) O, q3 A+ F4 DThe forecast comes as house prices have been falling nationally, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. Canada's largest housing markets have experienced prices declines from a year ago for four straight months, with each percentage drop bigger than the next. " ?/ B& t5 q. L ?. p3 k9 v
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Now CMHC has waded into the debate with its own forecast that despite the recent trend, home sale prices should edge up this year.
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* }$ N+ w. ?0 g% }6 s9 CIt expects the average price of a home sold to rise to $306,500 from $305,707. By next year the average sale price is forecast to rise to $306,700.
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"High employment levels, rising incomes and low mortgage rates have continued to provide a solid foundation for healthy housing markets this year," said Bob Dugan.
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However, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease." 8 W, d# J- C. ?$ ]; z( l
# ^4 p) I5 C0 A0 @It says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000. 1 I9 V, w5 L) E7 A1 A+ A
. `1 P. u: T4 C/ {! j" ZThe agency is forecasting 212,188 starts for this year which will be a drop from the 228,343 homes built in 2007. By 2009, the forecast is for 177,975 new homes to be built. # @% n) b1 ?5 P) X) n* V
' T l8 Z9 s" N: j0 E8 lThe prognosis is not much better for the sales of existing homes. After setting an all-time sales record of 523,701 transactions in 2007, sales are expected to drop to 452,225 in 2008 and 433,375 in 2009.
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% ]1 b- D+ k1 \0 M) \CMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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