Why Canada Only Builds Micro Condos — And What We Can Do About It

Jul 18, 2025

Toronto has become a global poster child for the micro-condo — tiny units designed not for families, but for investors. We’re told that’s just how the system works: developers need investors to pre-buy units years before anything gets built, because regular buyers won’t take that kind of risk.

But is that really true? Or is it a choice we’ve made — one that’s locked us into building housing that doesn’t actually serve the people who need it?

In this episode, John and Urmi speak with Pouyan Safapour, President of Devron Developments, who argues that Canada’s pre-construction financing model is at the root of the problem. While cities like New York, Berlin, and London build first and sell later, Canada relies heavily on speculative investor capital — and ends up building the wrong kind of supply.

They unpack how our current system works, why it’s failing, and what it would take to shift toward a model that puts end-users — not speculators — at the centre of condo development.

 

Contact Us

John Pasalis, President and Broker, Realosophy Realty, Toronto | Email: [e-mail] | X-Twitter: @JohnPasalis

David Larock, Mortgage Broker and Analyst and Realtor | Email: [e-mail] | X-Twitter: @Dave_at_IMP

Urmi Desai, Editor, Move Smartly | Email: [e-mail] | X-Twitter: @MoveSmartly

About This Show

The Move Smartly show is co-hosted by Urmi Desai, Editor of Move Smartly, and John Pasalis, President and Broker of Realosophy Realty. MoveSmartly.com and its media channels on YouTube and various podcast platforms are powered by Realosophy Realty in Toronto, Canada.

You can also watch this and every episode on our MoveSmartly YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly

If you enjoy our show and find it useful, please subscribe and leave us a positive rating on whatever platform you are watching or listening to us from — thank you!