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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
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% _5 _" f* M" Z( y- vThe Crown corporation warned that some moderation can be expected in the once red-hot housing sector for the rest of this year and into 2009. ( v# u9 D+ b+ ]/ g/ d$ t
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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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! M: P1 g7 M3 \1 _( HNow CMHC has waded into the debate with its own forecast that despite the recent trend, home sale prices should edge up this year." W( t. Y6 ^, W" s4 c! u
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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.: B6 n& }, ]& u! Y2 r- i
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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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2 N4 A0 A5 I0 y7 d; THowever, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease." 5 H; j. a+ b5 d( t( a
6 L- [8 U1 L. t# g2 x' ]It says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000. * d2 ?! U9 c6 m
4 V0 T9 m8 K' c5 c& QThe 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. 9 t' o0 b& P9 b( 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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CMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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