sales are "still strong"

vista

House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

# v8 i1 G5 R( `' k* r: cThe 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.
1 `' T  @# {: ], b# j, P
3 ~) x7 X$ I1 [The 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.

( _3 x) k* |/ X  L* w. \) u  aNow CMHC has waded into the debate with its own forecast that despite the recent trend, home sale prices should edge up this year.

It 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.
: }: A9 J2 _6 J) w! n
"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.

However, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease."
7 |+ t. R  e& Q3 e0 x6 w8 s
It says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000.
  L7 J' [4 o# [4 ~1 z) X
, h2 F* W: K2 U$ L8 J, kThe 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.

" I% u8 }! g. g/ \2 S  h: z/ pThe 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.

+ Z5 q+ h0 d( j+ |5 F' iCMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards.

lastman

快去抢房子

yj151

Too CNN