Move to Canada?

Today yahoo had an article with a list of the happiest countries. Norway was #1 Canada was #6, the US was #12. Maybe we can make a list of the Pros/Cons of moving to Canada from the US?

olvrtw said:   Today yahoo had an article with a list of the happiest countries. Norway was #1 Canada was #6, the US was #12. Maybe we can make a list of the Pros/Cons of moving to Canada from the US?

Can we pool our CashBack to make this happen?

I think the biggest con will be the colder weather... But lets try to focus more on the financial pros/cons...

olvrtw said:   Today yahoo had an article with a list of the happiest countries. Norway was #1 Canada was #6, the US was #12. Maybe we can make a list of the Pros/Cons of moving to Canada from the US?

I vote let's NOT.

These Asian investors did not get 100% financing from Canadian banks

They usually pay all cash. So there will not be a banking /foreclosure crisis , they will just hold their properties during a downturn

Terrible credit card signup offers...non starter!

The CFL is lame compared to the NFL.

olvrtw said:   Today yahoo had an article with a list of the happiest countries. Norway was #1 Canada was #6, the US was #12. Maybe we can make a list of the Pros/Cons of moving to Canada from the US?

Why be #6 when you can be #1? Move to Norway. Take a coat.

lonestarguy said:   The CFL is lame compared to the NFL.

What? I think EVERY 9-team sports league should have two teams with the same name.

Too bad the new team won't be able to carry on the tradition.

Costa Rica maybe. Canada? Are you crazy?

I don't know why all the red on this topic, aside from some people on FWF having an attitude that I try to avoid.

Too cold? Well, after global warming gets done with things, Texas will be uninhabitable leaving Canada with the only climate fit for human occupation.

Prices too high? I was in Vancouver recently and the prices aren't that out of line.

Taxes too high? The U.S. is falling off a fiscal cliff, with nobody seeming to care. The U.S. dollar will eventually tumble some more, which will affect us more than a higher tax rate.

Political stability? Just look where the U.S. is heading.

For these reasons, and others, I've maintained a checking, savings, ATM/debit card and credit card with one of the major Canadian banks for the longest time. I have to spread things around. There is a risk in thinking the U.S. will always be fine and dandy.

olvrtw said:   Today yahoo had an article with a list of the happiest countries. Norway was #1 Canada was #6, the US was #12. Maybe we can make a list of the Pros/Cons of moving to Canada from the US?

Why would you choose to go to happy country #6? If you are going to be an ex-pat, go balls to the wall and just head out to happy country #1.

It is not hyperbole to say that Norway is littered with hot blondes. Probably one of the better reasons it is #1.

actually: nothing matters besides your outlook for oil and gas. If you believe that energy prices will hold up, then opt for Canada, Norway or even Russia. If you don't, then forget about it. Countries with more vibrant population will come out on top

BEEFjerKAY said:   I've been moving a significant part of my cash to Canada for years.

One 80 proof case of liquid at a time.

Then you have obviously missed out on the best things about Kentucky...

If you can find a job, you can apply for the TN1 visa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TN_status

If someone really wants to immigrate, they should go through the process. It may be easy for some, and impossible for others. I wouldn't rely on what I read on FWF as the final answer.

Here is the take from someone that has lived both in US and Canada

US Pros:
1. Everything is DIRT cheap. We dont realize that till we go live somewhere else. In Canada - Basic needs such as milk costs $4.8 a gallon, Gas is over $5/gallon, bread is $3 a loaf, you get the picture. Car insurance was $100 a month
2. Taxes, what taxes? We pay next to nothing compared to other countries
3. Infrastructure

Canada Pros.
1. Healthcare. People have a misconception that you have to wait hours to see a doctor. Thats not the case.
2. Banking industry. No housing bubble due to very selective lending policies and people paying huge downpayments
3. People are nicer there.
4. Education is much cheaper due to lower availablity of loans.

Edit - Clarify prices in Canada, added education

BEEFjerKAY said:   lonestarguy said:   The CFL is lame compared to the NFL.

What? I think EVERY 9-team sports league should have two teams with the same name.

Too bad the new team won't be able to carry on the tradition.

No, no. The space makes all the difference!

I don't think I am going to live 10,000 years. I can deal with global warming. Global warming argument tops OP's post.

I'm ethnically chinese and while SIS probably can't provide exact stats, EVERY single person that I know from china(a lot hong kong) in canada bought their home with cash.

Most chinese try to get away from china and they go to Canada since their immigration is fairly lax. If it was easier to come to the USA, they would all come to the usa. The ones that do go to Canada are scared of the Chinese gov taking their cash or fortune somehow (communism paranoia but not totally false) . You will not only find a fairly large percentage of chinese in vancouver and toronto, you will see a TON of spoiled kids driving 50k+ cars cruising around. I have one property I did buy in Edmonton about 7 years ago which has worked out well. Although there are lot of asians there as well prices in some parts of Canada are still affordable.

The real estate market in Canada is a lot more stable since their lending is tighter than it was in the USA.

I personally love Vancouver but the weather is a bit chilly. I am in chicago so it isn't exactly that much warmer. If the cost of living was lower, I would be there in a heartbeat. Granville Island, outdoor activities, and driving distance to Seattle are huge pluses for me.

Once you travel to europe, asia, and rest of the world it is amazing how awesome the USA is. Perfect balance of cost of living, cleanliness, opportunity, and fun. Poor people who complain in this country are still "first world problems?

ChumChurum said:   ChumChurum said:   SUCKISSTAPLES said:   5-10 years ago there were definite pros of a better exchange rate and lower RE prices. I was considering buying there

Now the Canadian dollar is as much or more than the USD and Asian investors have driven the RE prices into the stratosphere in desirable cities like Vancouver and Toronto

Well, let me ask you this. How can we benefit from the blooming (or existing) real estate bubble, say, in Toronto.

Too bad you can't short-sell RE like you can short-sell stocks. Maybe short-sell Canadian homebuilders and Canadian Banks?

Ok, SIS, with due respect. Is your information anecdotal, or statistically sound?

E.g., what percentage of the Toronto downtown condos are financed vs bought by cash?

ungar2000 said:   Can/USA banking question:

If I have a Money Order in USD drawn from a Canadian bank, and then deposited into the USA at like BOA or Chase, will there be any fees, holds, or problems with depositing it?If the check is already in USD, there will be no fees when you deposit it in the US. Whether or not you'll have a hold will have to do with the amount of the check, your account type in the US and your US bank. It's just like any other out of state check that you deposit.

As for "problems," there is a good chance that you won't be able to feed it into an ATM (although it depends on the check and the ATM). Other than that, I can't think of anything else.