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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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2 }: m- I4 W) {: B1 C9 |( iThe 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.
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: e- p7 i9 ]) SThe 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. " l9 V" z! r5 u( ^' s5 t- E
+ C! ^7 A5 j6 m. x" U& hNow 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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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 $306,700.( ~- y" O" R, X2 z) d4 |' @. R
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"High employment levels, rising incomes and low mortgage rates have continued to provide a solid foundation for healthy housing markets this year," said Bob Dugan. 4 z+ A. U! Z5 W1 }
* x0 A/ d) Y9 Q+ Z" uHowever, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease." 9 {. h5 O" H6 u6 k$ i; Q8 X, l5 s
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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. 7 x8 U) d9 h- `
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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. " z" i# g7 ]* d0 _1 K/ T4 t! ?
$ Q6 X m( ^( @4 yThe 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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* y6 I- ]0 m. [ q( y4 wCMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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