The Hunt for Condo Data

Condo communities are struggling to make decisions due to a lack of reliable data. Even the most basic information, such as how many condo buildings exist and average condo fees paid, is available but unpublished. This data deficiency is not unique to condo communities, but does exist elsewhere. The U.S.A. is the world leader in gathering and sharing data, while Canada is still in blissful ignorance. The Condominium Authority of Ontario (CAO) has a competitive advantage in tracking and making public of more information than any other government.

In 2013, President Barack Obama signed an executive order making government data open and machine-readable by default. The CAO is in a position to improve on data available to condo communities by requiring each annual return to include audited financial statements. This data could be used by private businesses and government agencies to create analytic tools and reports, motivating communities to improve.