cdr108
Senior Member
However, this is a tangent off the larger point, which is that the percentage of units kept empty intentionally empty for long periods of time by Chinese speculators in Canada is low to begin with. The numbers that get thrown around (like 23% or whatever) are simply misrepresentations by undereducated members of the press and it's quite unfortunate that so many people choose to believe that misinformation.
percentage of units kept empty is a newer topic.
however, former discussions have been centred around what percentage of units sold are/were to investors.
the above article cites CMHCs numbers, which have been noted as being underrepresented due to the flawed analysis and lack of thorough data as opposed to information CRA asks developers for their sales lists.
it also references CMHCs report from December 2013 (that also raised questions) that found just 23 per cent of Toronto’s condo stock was being rented out in 2012 by investor-owners.
then they refer to CIBC deputy-chief economist Benjamin Tal:
“When you talk to developers in the GTA and even in many pockets in Vancouver, they tell you that 70 per cent of (condo) presales and close to 50 to 60 per cent of final sales are by investors.”
The “picture that is emerging from this survey is much more positive than the popular perception,” said Tal, calling the 17.1 investor figure “much smaller than expected.”