Victoria’s housing market improves

Times Colonist- Victoria, Vancouver and Abbotsford recorded increases in housing starts in August, with expectations that all three housing markets will remain positive, according to figures released yesterday by the Conference Board of Canada.

Vancouver showed a sharp increase and was ranked fifth of 27 metropolitan areas surveyed by the Conference Board.

"We expect more improvement in the next year," said economist Jane McIntyre, who wrote the report…

Victoria’s housing market improves

Canadian home prices continue to rise

Globe and Mail- Canadian home prices are still on the rise even as sales fall as demand peters out, one factor that is making homes less and less affordable, according to a study by the Conference Board of Canada.

Home sales have fallen by 25 per cent since reaching a peak at the beginning of the year as fewer buyers compete and more houses come onto the market. That hasn’t stopped houses from becoming more expensive, a trend that is likely to continue, said conference board associate director Michael Burt…

Canadian home prices continue to rise – The Globe and Mail

Home building still bright spot in Canada’s economy

Financial Post-Residential construction is a bright spot in the Canadian economy, according to a national survey that points to good short- and long-term prospects for housing starts in most parts of the country.

The outlook for short-term housing starts is positive in all but three of the 27 metropolitan areas surveyed by the Conference Board of Canada for its June monthly monitor, based on residential building permit data.

The long-term outlook, based on demographic requirements, isn’t quite as rosy, but it’s still positive, with 14 of the areas expected to post gains in housing starts.

All but six of the areas reported year-over-year growth in housing starts, with London, Ont., Edmonton, Trois-Rivieres, Que., Victoria and Abbotsford, B.C., showing the greatest increases from May of 2009…

Home building still bright spot in Canada’s economy

Victoria primed for economic upswing

Times Colonist- Buoyed by increased construction activity, manufacturing output and a housing market that continues to show strength, Victoria is poised to see its economy grow 3.2 per cent in 2010, according to the Conference Board of Canada.

Vancouver topped all Canadian cities with expectations its economy, basking in the afterglow of the Olympic torch, would expand by four per cent this year.

"The Olympic Games provided a big, even if temporary, boost to retail trade, arts, entertainment and recreation, accommodation, and food services in Vancouver. All in all, the Olympics injected about $600 million into the Vancouver economy, lifting growth by about 0.8 percentage points," said Mario Lefebvre, director of the Conference Board’s Centre for Municipal Studies.

In its spring Metropolitan Outlook, the board noted construction activity in Victoria, which declined by 9.1 per cent in 2009, will drive the rebound as it is expected to bounce back with a 35 per cent increase in housing starts and continued commercial activity to drive construction growth to 3.1 per cent…

Victoria primed for economic upswing

Next Page »