sales are "still strong"

vista

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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) g8 w( t- Z5 W4 f* s! P0 l* ~" MThe 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.

3 G! q: U4 p* g# ~# h/ Q7 ]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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0 o, ?/ X: \0 u0 BIt 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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"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.

However, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease."
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+ H# T. ~/ D1 WIt 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.

. F$ I: A* c4 w! O, bThe 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.

lastman

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yj151

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