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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. * y# F* y8 m" U
1 w! N, f c9 k* kThe Crown corporation warned that some moderation can be expected in the once red-hot housing sector for the rest of this year and into 2009.
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The forecast comes as house prices have been falling nationally, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. Canada's largest housing markets have experienced prices declines from a year ago for four straight months, with each percentage drop bigger than the next.
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# S5 w8 f2 H' j0 ]+ ~Now CMHC has waded into the debate with its own forecast that despite the recent trend, home sale prices should edge up this year.
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$ P2 y+ s W5 R; \3 U# W6 \- HIt 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 $306,700.1 K7 }% {; f' c# v
; i3 v' |! q" d8 t7 g D2 Y3 h"High employment levels, rising incomes and low mortgage rates have continued to provide a solid foundation for healthy housing markets this year," said Bob Dugan.
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However, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease." / {9 h8 u/ F+ [$ ] M! f! D: 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. , p$ o j* _+ O) v5 ~
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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. 5 f1 P% O( ]; ~7 Z( a+ n! J
! y' V* [6 z0 b p$ rThe 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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CMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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