CBC News

Canadians spent $19.8 billion on real estate through the first three months of this year, up 7.5% from the first quarter of 2007, Statistics Canada said Monday.

The overall value includes spending on new housing construction, on renovations and on acquisition costs, which include sales tax, land development charges and fees and premiums for mortgage insurance.

Statistics Canada said that in the January-to-March quarter, new housing investment increased by 8.8% compared with the first quarter of 2007 to $9.7 billion.

Spending on apartments increased by 17.5% to $2.6 billion, while spending on single-family housing construction rose by 3.7% to $5.6 billion.

The increase for single-family housing was due exclusively to higher prices, Statistics Canada said, adding that the growth in spending on apartments was mainly linked to new construction starts.

Renovation spending came to $8.4 billion, a 7.2% increase compared with the first quarter of 2007

Acquisition costs rose 1.3% to $1.7 billion.

The biggest increases in residential investment occurred in British Columbia, where spending shot up 21.2% to $4 billion. Spending in Alberta was up 9.1% to $3.5 billion, and in Ontario by 4% to $6.9 billion. Quebec, Prince Edward Island and the three territories reported decreases.

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