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Dan Morrison, president of the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board, has called on the government to exempt real estate deals that are in the process of closing to minimize short-term volatility in the market.

The province also released updated figures Tuesday from a snapshot of five weeks between June 10 and July 14 indicating that 935 of the 9,636 homes sold in Metro Vancouver went to foreign nationals.

Foreigners also paid more on average for homes, spending $946,945 compared with an average purchase price by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of $911,425, the figures show.

Premier Christy Clark said the new tax is aimed at making housing more affordable for B.C.’s middle-class buyers.

Last month, the real estate board said its benchmark price for detached properties in Vancouver had risen above $1.5 million.

If the transaction is registered Aug. 2 or afterwards, the tax applies.

The government recalled the legislature for a special summer sitting to introduce and adopt the housing amendments.

The Opposition New Democrats said Tuesday they intend to vote in favour of the tax changes, but will propose amendments during debate.

“It’s better than nothing, which is where we were two days ago,” said NDP housing critic David Eby.

The tax is only for foreign buyers who purchase in Metro Vancouver. De Jong said the government will track real estate purchases after the tax comes into effect to determine if foreign buyers have taken their business to southern Vancouver Island and the Okanagan.