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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. " g, R! h0 `" V" w2 d. r$ `
& H) n$ s- p, 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.
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$ \8 M* s' P) V2 f" @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. 5 U4 v# G2 W$ X2 U: z
# X8 I& o1 f! hNow 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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/ H+ R4 h5 f; p& d# p bIt 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.% e4 a @4 N! i! B2 S
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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."
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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. * Z' f3 d* C1 m( F Y; [
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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. + u& ~9 V+ J' d' i8 T: c& d9 ?
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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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