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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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2 Z! X. t# f- B3 W8 \! j7 e9 cThe 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. $ }% u& X* A7 D/ P `
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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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o; l! r! Q- L$ Y+ e8 |3 gNow 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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8 G) W5 J- M0 j3 V( YIt 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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8 y z+ P( b5 Z, n+ H"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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- Z" C" E3 K' l+ B6 ZHowever, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease."
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+ O6 s1 u, S! ?6 R- f8 Q+ v+ _It says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000. \$ {; ^% C7 r3 ]/ T+ f- C% J
; {& r2 h) _9 S8 M& JThe 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.) ]8 a9 w" v" B, }! ]
( J ~* {- X3 `( Q+ R4 FCMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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