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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. " t' ~8 @0 b% S1 O
! z; b6 p# ]& h2 h( `1 C! PThe Crown corporation warned that some moderation can be expected in the once red-hot housing sector for the rest of this year and into 2009. - h+ q% F$ I9 W
6 z0 o6 ^( A/ }5 FThe 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.
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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.. R" x0 K7 c9 o3 r, [! x. `: s
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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.
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7 N* ^0 p9 g5 W8 u9 e! y: Z"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. 4 G/ Q6 c y4 i7 Y6 p0 a
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However, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease." `* |* t% K9 e+ n6 H+ H3 i R. _
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It says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000. 0 j. ^8 [* g& g; p+ ^; h9 t
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The 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.
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- L3 ~ b3 l' n! F1 `+ sThe 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 2009.5 S( `# `! l4 w+ U
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CMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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