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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. : c% F6 m V& Y% o$ ]5 X
+ m' k- h1 ] I3 R3 e3 UThe 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. / o$ B2 h# k0 R0 p4 i5 q0 X
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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. 2 a: r, {5 X6 k3 t
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Now 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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2 Y3 j2 h. L. 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 $306,700.
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0 l: S, u: N0 [7 @"High employment levels, rising incomes and low mortgage rates have continued to provide a solid foundation for healthy housing markets this year," said Bob Dugan. % p/ ]0 g: Q t* ~1 g
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However, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease." 7 d V6 _. d$ ~5 h0 l) J0 |! p, L
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It 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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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. ( B( Y8 a, x: y1 K+ V: a
' o+ \4 G. l, P0 y4 x) _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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' Y* r' V# u& a' Y' v, _6 N( a. ^CMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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