[MichaelBurge]

You should always ask for a copy of the HOA bylaws before buying a condo. You might prefer to pay extra to discourage empty investors, and that could certainly be written in. Even without that, you might also ask how many of the other buyers are pure investors or otherwise ask people how they like it there.

Though, it seems like a condominium complex that is 50% empty would give you a greater density of neighbors than a SFH suburb that is 50% empty. And you can get the Chinese to pay for your new roof, to boot.

Somehow I doubt even the Chinese have enough money to turn a high-density city into a scene from 28 Days Later, though.

[andkon]

Anecdotally, I lived in Coal Harbour in Vancouver when I first moved here. The newest waterfront condos were ~30 stories tall, and on average, you'd see three lights on at night in them. It's not like that everywhere here, but it is really strange.