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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. 1 L0 Q% g a# c
4 w: C; z9 s/ |# {$ Z; {$ A0 BThe 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$ x9 j( c9 v1 ~. Z" T: k
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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. # h4 c+ y1 o2 w& u+ A3 B
+ [/ @" ]0 E& l8 YNow 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 $306,700.7 p( g2 x8 y7 F- `/ P4 F; D v
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"High employment levels, rising incomes and low mortgage rates have continued to provide a solid foundation for healthy housing markets this year," said Bob Dugan. & {8 S2 l' |$ @* `
0 N+ S4 ^: n% ~% |However, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease."
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1 o$ d1 W& |3 e& j* i( w( ?It says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000. d, g; V; a; X( g
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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.
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/ \9 Q6 A1 `. R( e9 p. Z/ H9 _3 {1 VThe 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.# \/ n; i& l0 m' ]3 I
0 n! z3 K+ J1 X1 W- p% ]CMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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