 鲜花( 7)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. ' |2 j$ Z N; Z5 Q. A, N8 ]
2 `2 b5 z, K+ A3 c+ N: I5 S
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. 4 X6 h+ m$ M4 S
0 P! n ]# a' q4 B: L2 u8 C
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. 4 Q/ ~5 ^0 I- t8 X8 a
$ ?* {6 G }7 U# h8 oNow CMHC has waded into the debate with its own forecast that despite the recent trend, home sale prices should edge up this year.
, k" k* v! X- _6 c4 l; Q. v9 I7 G# [1 x2 q3 f! ~- K Y
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 $306,700.
% d7 }' i- c( g( y$ ?0 K* a3 n6 P2 f6 D2 L% 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. $ e* r8 N5 ^4 S: ^
( g t0 p) X. t( W6 ^) G
However, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease."
( H: l# R7 Z$ W" x. A3 _: s9 S F0 e3 ^$ p
It says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000. " E& B5 Q; ]3 ]% k
5 |4 R" v# x! {& i" v( }8 G7 EThe 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.
; H5 Z" X# \+ d- [! ?( v
, m+ \- h9 g- P9 ^* V. UThe 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.
- Y9 j1 Q! z8 T& A1 w8 D( ^3 t0 G
- w) M$ d1 k7 t6 J* VCMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
|