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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. & k2 o& _# i6 Y4 W3 o
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The Crown corporation warned that some moderation can be expected in the once red-hot housing sector for the rest of this year and into 2009. : J; s: z$ Y0 h" r2 o
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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.
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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.3 C# G8 Z% @( U3 W# i
7 Z+ h1 q! C' z% ^% W/ ^' ~9 HIt 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 $306,700.$ p4 ]1 ^, A2 w& R( h/ n
- P9 H1 f2 {# \"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." : z/ U! T* ~5 I# {
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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.
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* i3 W8 y8 i. }& UThe 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. 5 G! s3 L6 E* u! ^
2 Y+ b# h* w$ g) gThe 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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CMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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