 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.
$ F3 V; U7 ], l0 A
3 h& f5 s( N3 ~8 C" 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. ; \! L9 i, Y7 I( G
- A+ T6 D# w! Y/ j4 b% T x1 q
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. & m# _- A, F% r$ W; P
9 U* s" C+ W/ ], XNow CMHC has waded into the debate with its own forecast that despite the recent trend, home sale prices should edge up this year.
; ^& _( H) H, L$ Y0 C: j* o- y5 L/ C- u: S- {' h
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 $306,700.' Y! l* ]8 D! _1 p' a# J" M
- u, l0 y3 d# Z j7 W u2 Y"High employment levels, rising incomes and low mortgage rates have continued to provide a solid foundation for healthy housing markets this year," said Bob Dugan. 2 M' d; ]% `' t7 K& O- z
0 I7 j) P# T* i2 l4 J- Q7 NHowever, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease." # J* k3 Z7 j6 x$ m" Q: E% ~3 y- U
- M- l- e, g& A2 z, V+ x
It says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000. 4 N0 S2 b) v; `3 H/ h. Y' }( [1 y
. @) V& v) f1 K2 v; M- W
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.
6 X5 Q+ @4 K* U5 U* x {+ F
5 u; N) h. L0 x5 w0 h+ ]" d1 IThe 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.* p4 _) T* v2 {) v/ j! J
9 Y* v* Y4 {3 x: O5 O) ]
CMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
|