My name is Xinyue Pi. I am working towards a Master of Environmental Studies in the University of Waterloo’s School of Planning. Currently I am working in the research team led by Dr. Dawn Parker and Dr. Jeff Casello to develop a model to understand housing market and transportation interactions in Kitchener-Waterloo. In order to do so, the research team will be conducting a series of surveys with developers, buyers/sellers and renters to understand their characteristics and preferences. I am mainly responsible for designing and conducting the renters’ survey, which is also a part of my thesis study.
Renters in Kitchener-Waterloo are invited to participate in the renters’ survey. In appreciation of the time commitment, survey participants will be entered into a prize draw for a Fitbit Charge HR fitness tracker (a $199.95 value). Both web based survey and paper survey are available. The results of the survey will provide information on renters’ preferences and rental housing demand. It is anticipated that the survey results will also provide more information on the distributions of sub rental markets: students, seniors, young professionals, and low-income households. In further analysis, I will build statistical models to explain renters’ housing preferences and choice behaviour.
