 鲜花( 7)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
5 N J: }. A& o8 U) _
! {$ U( P! R7 D1 [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.
& K! Y9 t+ Y5 v: D
! e9 [6 m( t' u5 A, KThe 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. % d# z/ d- u& b5 P4 d
+ [+ ^3 l' R7 A4 r4 h" f% N5 ]
Now CMHC has waded into the debate with its own forecast that despite the recent trend, home sale prices should edge up this year.
+ p7 H' S; K; V+ ?: s: E; M) X3 D6 o' k i. E4 G
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.
5 e) N% b' B- c
. p9 N- N9 S ~"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. 5 C% `1 \3 K8 F' x% g% t( j
$ t0 @2 I# h U# Y- R2 c; c3 yHowever, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease." 4 w- v3 J: O7 Q/ N1 x
8 \0 L& [2 e( }/ h
It says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000.
. M) P! V1 J( u; |& V3 C/ ?" D, ?' }6 ?+ f# K8 {& j$ _+ }8 |
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.
8 j5 a4 ~) z' W, B/ c; R
% p7 d0 l; g' l& `5 XThe 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 2009.9 ?& l" B2 x, r* g
t7 n N. z% b5 i8 Z& E) Z# Q$ aCMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
|