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| Home values up more than 200 per cent between 1997 and 2007 2 l3 W% K2 }; j( c
 " h1 |* l7 i6 BEDMONTON - Homes in Edmonton jumped more in average price than anywhere in Canada over the past decade, says a new report by Re/max.+ V  Z, i& r+ O, u
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 Home values soared 203 per cent between 1997 and 2007 - "making Edmonton the best return on investment in the country at an annually compounded rate of 11.7 per cent," said the report.
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 A home's average price in Alberta's capital rose to $338,636 in 2007 from $111,587 a decade ago.
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 0 h- C" X- c6 {/ A  fBooming population, limited inventory of homes and a hot economy are behind some of the tightest market conditions in the country, the report said.& r% d# z0 q. o
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 First-time homebuyers sparked the explosion in 1996-97 and have powered the market since then, Re/max said. Buyers trading up, meanwhile, have stimulated sales at the high end of the market.# m' g0 m$ M8 h, j1 |
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 In recent years, the report suggests move-down buyers, aging baby boomers, are driving the condo market.& t1 ]: u8 ?' c! y( k0 {
 
 b+ T& @6 |; |"While 2007 was a roller-coaster year for real estate activity in Edmonton, 2008 holds more promise," the report said.
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 ' w  }! {; p6 P/ B/ k- B4 A, NIt points to falling numbers of homes for sale, predicted lower interest rates and continued strength in the oilpatch.4 e, d* W2 S7 Q# G/ A5 _+ v
 
 , X" A4 X/ O5 l$ PIn Calgary, housing values nearly tripled, climbing to $414,066 from $143,305 in the same period.
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