If you thought Chinese investors were starting to lose interest in Canadian real estate, think again. According to a new report, both Vancouver and Toronto are forecast to be this year`s most popular destinations for Chinese overseas property investment.

"Buying sentiment for overseas properties among Chinese mainland investors has been gaining strong momentum over the  past few years," said Derek Lai, director of international properties for Colliers International real estate services -- the author of the report. "To date, about 20 percent to 40 percent of the foreign  property investors in these ... destinations are from the Chinese mainland."

The report goes on to cite Vancouver`s Chinese population -- what it pegs as 30  percent of city residents -- as one of the driving factors for that investment choice.Mainland Chinese investors are also lured by the Lower Mainland`s educational opportunities and proximity to home, according to Colliers.

In Canada, Vancouver`s appeal helped to drive up price gains in large parts of the Lower Mainland last year, with domestic investors concerned another year of strong transaction growth could present a real challenge to their own acquisition plans if sellers continue to hold out for well-heeled foreign buyers. Many have only begun to lower their asking prices to meet the current market realities; ie, more supply than demand.That said, there has been some movement.

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