Why Is Vancouver Great to Buy In But Terrible to Live In?

Vancouver has some of the priciest real estate on the continent — and some of the lowest property taxes. That’s not a coincidence, and it’s not free. Someone pays for it.

This talk breaks down how that gap actually works — why it shifts the tax burden off property owners and onto renters and income earners instead, and what it means for anyone trying to build a life here. A UBC economist walks us through the policy history, who benefits, who absorbs the cost, and why a city this profitable to own in can be this hard to live in.

Every Sip Smarter talk includes a 45-minute lecture followed by an open Q&A over drinks.

SPEAKER

Dr. Thomas Davidoff is a Professor at UBC Sauder’s School of Business, holder of the Stanley Hamilton Professorship in Real Estate Finance, and Director of the UBC Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate. His research focuses on housing, mortgages, and the policy decisions shaping what it actually costs to live here.

“The only thing better than learning is the conversation after.”