Despite reports to the contrary, a recent report created in part by the City of Vancouver, finds that most housing types in the city have yet to be sold to absentee landlords.
A report by Vancouver city staff and software company Ecotagious Inc. have found the rate of unoccupied homes in Vancouver to be in in line with other big cities, and flat since 2002, according to an article in The Globe and Mail. The number of unoccupied units is still growing, however, due to growth in the overall supply of the city's housing. Condos are by far the most commonly unoccupied form of housing in the city—reaching 12.5 percent unoccupied in 2015.
Vancouver is perhaps the most famous example of an expensive city where the housing woes are blamed on the effects of foreign investors—speculating on real estate but not occupying it, and gobbling up supply from local residents. The condo market in Vancouver has also been hot for a long time.
FULL STORY: Vancouver’s vacant homes in line with other cities, but condos most likely empty
Foreign Investors Driving Up Housing Costs, Creating Zombie Communities
A slew of analysis in recent weeks has examined the negative consequences of foreign real estate speculation in cities like New York City, London, and Vancouver.
Luxury Condos for Sale in Vancouver as Non-Resident Owners Balk at New Taxes
A tax on non-resident property owners is working as it's intended, as a wave of luxury condo units hit the real estate market all over the city of Vancouver.
Putting in Condos Without Kicking Out Renters in Vancouver
Transit oriented development doesn’t have to mean evictions and demolitions for existing renters, but often it does.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
Detroit Says Problems With Property Tax Assessments are Fixed. Advocates Disagree.
With higher-valued properties under assessed and lower-valued properties over assessed, advocates say there's still a problem with Detroit's property tax system.
Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont