Canada real estate is hot-hot-hot

Canadians seem to be in the throes of a home-buying frenzy. The most intense activity is in cities in western Canada. The number of home-sale transactions in Canada is projected to rise by 8% this year (as opposed to a 5.7% decline in the U.S. seen by the National Assn. of Realtors). And the average price, nationwide, should pop up by 9.5% to about $285,000. (The realtors association doesn't calculate a U.S. average sale price, but it predicts that the 2007 median -- the point at which 50% of homes sold for less and 50% for more will decline 1.4% this year, to $218,800.)