Foreign buyers bought $885M of Metro Vancouver real estate in five weeks, data show

VICTORIA – Foreign buyers purchased more than $1 billion in real estate in B.C. in five weeks, new government figures show.The amount, $1.024 billion, represents 7.9 per cent of the total $12.89 billion of real estate sold in the province between June 10 and July 14. In the Metro region, foreign citizens bought $885 million in real estate out of a total $8.8 billion during the time period, representing 10 per cent of purchases.The number of foreign purchases in the City of Vancouver was almost 11 per cent, compared to 18 per cent in Richmond, 8 per cent in Surrey and almost 18 per cent in Burnaby.The average purchase price by foreign citizens in Metro Vancouver was $946,945 compared to $911,425 by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.Premier Christy Clark announced a 15-per-cent tax on foreign buyers Tuesday.