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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
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6 k: M& T f @" `& I$ x/ EThe 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. " q6 z5 x' M, X; f& D
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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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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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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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# S- a. w, H8 P2 @"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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& o9 Y8 R# t, i8 p6 ^" dHowever, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease." ' y: b! |; A1 M# `/ u
& P2 k8 h5 f: o2 G& cIt says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000. $ ?) F z: s3 H2 S- u5 B1 m$ Q% N$ \
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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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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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9 ~/ J1 g; B; HCMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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