In the case of Vancouver specifically, it was a combination of Ponzi schemes, lending fraud, and money laundering: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/v

In the case of Vancouver specifically, it was a combination of Ponzi schemes, lending fraud, and money laundering: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/out-of-the-shadows/article31802994/ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/out-of-... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/canadian-banks-mortgage-guidelines-favour-foreign-home-buyers/article31869946/ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/canadia... http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/chinese-police-run-secret-operations-in-b-c-to-hunt-allegedly-corrupt-officials-and-laundered-money http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/chinese-police-run-...