in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 15 ,2 02 1 | 8 It's more expensive than ever to live in Halton. From rentals to home ownership, prices have steadily in- creased over the last decade and this has created chal- lenges for individuals and families. In a three-part se- ries on the state of housing, we take a closer look at how we got here and what sky- high prices mean for local residents. Here is part one, examining house sales across the region. Next week, see part two on the cost of renting in Halton. The cost of a house in Halton is high, and likely getting higher. Bidding wars have be- WHY HAVE HALTON HOMES BECOME SO EXPENSIVE? Andrew Balahura, Director of Housing Services and Chief Operating Officer of Halton Community Housing, offers some insight into why housing prices have risen so dramatically. Graham Paine/Metroland ROLAND CILLIERS rcilliers@metroland.com NEWS See - page 9