[kazinator]

> The median salary in Vancouver is substantially lower than Sydney, and its property values are similar.

Not that you actually own that property value in Vancouver. If you run away and go work somewhere else for a year, and don't rent it, you owe Vancouver a hefty empty home tax.

[8note]

ideally you'd be taxed at a higher rate than that just as property tax, regardless of whether it's empty, being rented, or lived in

[CountSessine]

You still have to pay property tax - but you also have to pay an empty home tax on top of that.