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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. ; w% L+ W- z' V, u4 E+ P
6 d# B' g3 G. V8 v- zThe Crown corporation warned that some moderation can be expected in the once red-hot housing sector for the rest of this year and into 2009.
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: c$ u" ^0 b1 g' m: cThe 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. : ^ J- m1 D0 a+ v
- N/ U' s. K1 }4 q! }' LNow CMHC has waded into the debate with its own forecast that despite the recent trend, home sale prices should edge up this year.3 @0 Y- u$ p+ J/ v
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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.
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6 ~" Q# S! H1 ]* @" U; V"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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- k7 u. k2 z: THowever, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease." * |# }( f7 O; K) ~
& ^+ f8 i& L8 o x+ \) UIt says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000. # h8 o; \; S8 \" z* s) R
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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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1 `% x7 ? d& M# }3 z6 qThe 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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& R( M8 m/ F# |6 Q! K1 h/ iCMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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