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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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7 a2 k+ f) w/ R b, ~. @. t* [" KThe 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. 6 I( o3 m# u) R: O; L8 O+ ~! t
9 N1 R7 U% [5 J* F( tThe 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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; a O9 n0 J V& TNow CMHC has waded into the debate with its own forecast that despite the recent trend, home sale prices should edge up this year.# w. [# `+ S7 H
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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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2 a; B) x, b! u) y" O6 o ["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." , F7 b0 W6 T. d) ~* k
: r8 o% J% m& c/ }# G& zIt says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000. 7 y8 }: i( n) t* X& F% x
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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.
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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., D8 A2 K1 c# {' P8 L( n& T; y
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CMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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