 鲜花( 7)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
, S$ {! @& u0 ~3 ?
0 X: f/ a% ?' {2 T: d$ HThe 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.
7 v3 d, y8 i5 c0 `* i# U* m% k# r4 K5 t o! x* f/ L E+ W( q/ H
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. ! X& {0 ]& y$ d1 ]8 N F1 c3 j
0 F! z2 d5 P' d: z" oNow CMHC has waded into the debate with its own forecast that despite the recent trend, home sale prices should edge up this year.
% W5 ~4 `9 m& ~. w. W
, R# _8 b" {, I9 {- Y& {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 $306,700.. L$ k$ v0 l! b
$ f u" Q* C3 Z% [: K3 c6 @/ K
"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. 4 C) @, S0 x b' x
: L+ M( L/ q) W: J$ IHowever, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease."
- r! @( e2 {# [" ?3 [6 z
7 M& I8 x* t% Q( DIt says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000.
$ j" c3 |: v* Z; ?0 `
) e4 b/ `' f, \' l. w! GThe 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.
( j, \. t8 j( I8 }' w* x# @" ~9 f! ~1 R$ E$ H0 D, q9 X F
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 2009.7 R/ L9 q2 k& ]# _; P
; [$ ]" I4 x8 r
CMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
|