Vancouver and the lower mainland and Victoria (on Vancouver Island), have the mildest weather, compared to the rest of Canada. They are good places to live. But it is expensive in terms of ownership/renting. Canada is a good place to live. Its cold in the winter for most Canadians. Taxes are high in Canada due to the socialist society we have. We get Health Care.
So ask yourself why are property taxes high for that older couple? Well over the years the governments lowered taxes for corporations/businesses and governments had to find new way to pay for all the infrastructure that we have in Canada (roads, hospitals, transportation).
Taxes- now you get a better tax return if you donate to a political party then if you gave to charity/church.
As for selling the house for 4 million and moving elsewhere. Look at the world today, it is getting more unstable in terms of weather (wouldn't live in the Caribbean due to hurricanes etc), the US is pulling back from being the world's police force. As you age you will use the health care system more and more (demographics- in Canada we have an aging population), so as people retire the system is more and more burdened.
In 2000 I bought a house and the taxes were 1200.00, today that has gone up to 2200.00, in twenty years time it will likely double to 4400.00. That will be too much. Houses are not a business and generate wealth like an normal business, but the fact is houses/home ownership is being treated as one by the governments. When you retire and are on a limited income, your money will be sucked out by taxes, like the couple with the 4 million dollar house. Somewhere out there is the fact that land has to generate revenue, if not for the owner, it will for the government.
For years the provincial government has allowed the price of housing in Vancouver and lower mainland to increase, in order to charge more taxes... But real estate developers, house flippers, house assessment people, banks all have a hand in the drastic rise in the real estate boom, in order to make money.
HGTV- popular shows, shows couples flipping houses etc all contributing to the quick and easy money making schemes. People fall for that.
The average Canadian income is about 72,000.00, your need to earn 150,000.00 to 250,000.00 to afford to live in Vancouver. Its why escorts charge 300.00 -400.00/hr in Vancouver.:bounce::bounce:
Look at the greater Toronto area, there must be at least 5000 or more people flipping houses in order to generate tax free capital gains. I am not sure if there is a limit on how many houses you can flip.