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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
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The Crown corporation warned that some moderation can be expected in the once red-hot housing sector for the rest of this year and into 2009.
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. M' y! l% e9 D$ g6 mThe 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. 6 M9 M0 M* x$ V+ U7 S8 ]
; n: w/ y) b% f& [+ BNow 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 $306,700.. m# `( W% e9 k8 ^. U+ W
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"High employment levels, rising incomes and low mortgage rates have continued to provide a solid foundation for healthy housing markets this year," said Bob Dugan.
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However, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease." + z0 K- x7 O B5 I$ M
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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. + \: Q$ { `( q6 d
* i( W* i! g; D: v: xThe 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. : `; v: g8 r) e/ [2 T
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The 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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X- o; s1 ]# U; \- H* ?CMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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