Population and Housing

[Markster]

Can higher density buildings designed for the student lifestyle (eg 5 bedrooms to a unit; residence style amenities etc) be repurposed fast enough to attract other demographics? 

I have trouble seeing the 5-bedroom stock converting any time in the near future. It's an interesting scenario we have here. In Toronto, they're having to force developers to build more 3-bedroom units to keep towers more family friendly. Here in Waterloo, we'll have this large interesting stock of, let's call it "4-bedroom + Den", that will now be around in perpetuity. Perhaps some of the low-rise ones on quieter streets might one day be converted to condominiums and sold off. I could see owner-occupancy as a possibility then.

This will only really happen once rents for 5-bedroom units start dropping, as they are currently at $2500~$3000/unit, which is more than a single-family-home mortgage.

As we see more 2/3 bedroom units come on-line at similar prices per bedroom to the 5-bedroom stock, we should see some downward price pressure.