SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

Twenty-four percent of foreign U.S. home buyers from May 2007 to May 2008 were Canadian, double the percentage of a year earlier, the National Association of Realtors says.

They were drawn by the buying power of the newly strong Canadian dollar and depressed U.S. real estate prices, the Washington trade group says in a report.

The Canadian dollar was worth about 94 U.S. cents Friday after hitting a high of $1.10 in July 2007. It was worth 80 cents three years ago.

Canadians also benefit from a continued strong Canadian housing market and escalating home equity, unlike many Americans, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

Overall Canadian home prices are expected to rise 5.3 percent this year after growing 11 percent in 2007 to an average of $307,265, the Canadian Real Estate Association says.

Most Canadian buyers bought homes in the Sunbelt, with Florida accounting for one-third of all purchases, followed by Arizona, says the report, cited in the Journal.

Some 7,200 Canadians bought Florida homes during the report period, more than double the 3,500 of a year earlier.

Fully 752 Canadians bought homes in Arizona, almost double the number of the year before, said Information Market, a real estate data firm in Glendale, Ariz.

 BREAKING STORIES

Canadian minister raps CBC on expenses

Major hot tar spill clogs city sewers

Fiery meteorite wows Western Canada

Students warned off 'South Park' prank

Canada puts off economy relief to 2009

Second Canadian broadcaster posts layoffs

Another Canadian auto supplier closing

Canadian cops warned of cell phone jammers

Report: GM Canada pension fund well short

Canada wants taxes from online sales

Economy No. 1 for new Canadian Parliament

Auto supplier in Canada hit by slump

Canadian manufacturing sales near flat

Police: Murder included in film script

Canadian Sept. exports down, imports up

Canada triples aid to banks' credit

Canwest eliminating 560 jobs

Canadian oil sands valued at $1.5 trillion

Hospital 'superbugs' in Canada on the rise

Canada won't match U.S. auto bailout