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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
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; n3 f+ `9 W$ X" f O' e$ RThe 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. , P6 ]1 L2 m% r' v
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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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7 H# D5 m% P% Q! [" ZNow 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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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 $306,700.
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% M; n) X, `* N"High employment levels, rising incomes and low mortgage rates have continued to provide a solid foundation for healthy housing markets this year," said Bob Dugan.
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However, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease."
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; y7 ?$ @. C# `4 o" BIt says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000.
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# W5 J* h0 R" F4 vThe 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. 1 \$ v( w- `1 _; P) y
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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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: Q# B$ e4 S# B3 LCMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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