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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
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The Crown corporation warned that some moderation can be expected in the once red-hot housing sector for the rest of this year and into 2009. ! Q7 U& O" B) ]. u3 `
0 d& F* n" U& v% N/ T0 A) o* oThe forecast comes as house prices have been falling nationally, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. Canada's largest housing markets have experienced prices declines from a year ago for four straight months, with each percentage drop bigger than the next.
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. O c6 I( ]& R4 X; ]Now CMHC has waded into the debate with its own forecast that despite the recent trend, home sale prices should edge up this year.& c2 ]& `5 l$ g$ d5 w
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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 $306,700.
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$ o. j+ g' E. Q) I) G6 q"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." " u. s) y* g1 B2 _& c! n
9 p0 L- t2 E: D- q2 y1 d" AIt says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000. ! I' n9 J' }8 H
) }, X [) K8 B0 `) RThe 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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- w/ M/ S, k/ T; EThe 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 2009.4 ]$ l; q: I2 K- b
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CMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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