Resales of Canadian homes show continued strength in August

Resales of Canadian homes held steady and the national average price soared in August as the supply of existing homes for resale dwindled to a five-year low, the Canadian Real Estate Association said Tuesday.

A total of 42,483 homes traded hands across the country last month through the Multiple Listing Service, an increase of 18.5 per cent from August 2008, the industry association said.

The national MLS residential average price rose 11.3 per cent from year-ago levels to $324,779, a record high for the seasonally slow month of August.

Sales activity varied in various parts of the country, with about three-quarters of all local market showing increases from August 2008.