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House prices are going to go up next year, albeit by a mere $200, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
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The Crown corporation warned that some moderation can be expected in the once red-hot housing sector for the rest of this year and into 2009.
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' K+ E$ r5 `; Q- lThe 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. ; \% R a+ u. n2 e
. J' }5 K+ Q& B/ c6 gNow 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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) o, W0 Q/ f: U ?* jIt 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 $306,700.
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& b, _5 t7 L4 E# T! t8 i"High employment levels, rising incomes and low mortgage rates have continued to provide a solid foundation for healthy housing markets this year," said Bob Dugan. % K _5 X: z5 Y p1 b- g. g
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However, CMHC is clearly predicting a pullback and titled its latest report, "Housing market starting to ease." 4 `2 j- |+ I1 i! f$ x/ j
1 @# D6 Y- y5 d! B" a' nIt says for the first time in seven years the number of new homes built across the country will dip below 200,000. , @2 g8 q) t- I, y6 ^# b: i) s
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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. 1 G8 t# g8 ]! A8 K
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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.& e: `- D# m+ D
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CMHC says those sales are "still strong" by historical standards. |
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