tough out there

[newtone]

Correction the best time to move would be 2008 because that was the bottom of the slump, Canada and USA alike. 2010 a better year for Canada than USA

By self-sustaining I mean, no dependence on another nation. for example: Canada does not produce a single car therefore it has to depend on other nations. The reason its important is because if I were to buy a car (Nissan Maxima for example) I would rather pay $30,000 than $50,000. And this is the reason why its soooooo important. Cost of living is absolutely ridiculous. I dont know about you but I like to pay $20 for a pair of levis jeans rather than $60, dont you agree???

Canada fits the model of a nation that is on the brink of economic disaster. You dont see how it makes it a mafia nation? well to start with the mayor of one of the largest cities in Canada is a crackhead, he is involved with drug dealers and criminals. Secondly you've heard of the Charbonneau Commission? the corruption that goes on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charbonneau_Commission

With all this corruption, mafia, money laundering and authority turning a blind eye I can see how the middle income people are disappearing and the prices of construction/real estate is sky rocketing

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/video/mafia-presence-canada-015500227.html

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/canadas-housing-market-overvalued-by-just-10-toronto-dominion-bank-study-finds/article16661532/

Not sure if you own property but I would hate to pay half a million of dollars to get a pigeon hole apartment with outrageous condo fees and if you want to know where condo fees are going read the article in the bottom, this is an example of one that got caught, who knows how many more that are not reported, the laws in Canada are so draconian that it literally encourages criminals to take their professions to a new level:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2011/09/15/property_manager_bilked_20m_in_condo_fraud_victims_claim.html

Okay lets leave alll this aside..................

I work 9 to 5 and I like to have extra money and time to take vacations and spend with my family, why does it have to be so hard in Canada? Over that they pay you less for the same job you are doing in USA.

 

[newtone]

By the way you possibly cannot compare New York to Toronto.

New York is a city that never sleeps, Toronto is a city where no one ever wakes up
New York is an old city with a lot of history, Toronto is very new with no histrory
New York is a financial capital, Toronto is not even a capital by any standards

Its fair to say New York has its own identity and Toronto tries to be like New York but failing miserably

Actually Toronto cannot be compared to Houston cause Houston is more lively atleast restaurants are open past 10 pm on a weekdays.

 

[on-hold]

Nothing you say is wrong -- we're playing the old academic game of "Your groundbreaking theory is actually a peculiar exception to my grand framework . . ." I'm just saying that your circumstance depend as much on unique variables as they do on underlying causes. In my field, the pay in Canada is twice what I get in the States -- in your field, it's reversed. I don't own any property, and there's no way I'm paying $400,000 for the hideous bungalow that would buy me in Edmonton (or Vancouver, or Toronto) -- but if I was in Houston, my pay would be slashed as well. I'm paying rent (and that blows), but I'm saving a good chunk of cash a month.

As for the mafia stuff, happens everywhere, google New Jersey governor. That stuff is usually less important than the legal stuff that goes on, at least in my opinion.

Economies are funny, how quickly they shift -- from 2008 - 2011, Canada looked pretty good and the crowing up here was loud and prolonged. In the last 6 months, it's suddenly turned and now the G&M is publishing articles saying that if the Mexican peso collapses, it'll pull the loonie down with it. Who knows? Maybe Canada is a developing nation at heart, things go up and down. One thing you write that I can't argue with, is that the U.S. is big enough that it can actually create the conditions it thrives in; Canada can't, and there are trends that can hurt it internationally. Within Canada, Alberta can be doing well while Toronto stagnates. I wish the reverse would happen for a while, so the housing market here would 'correct' a little.

 

[on-hold]

By the way you possibly cannot compare New York to Toronto.

New York is a city that never sleeps, Toronto is a city where no one ever wakes up
New York is an old city with a lot of history, Toronto is very new with no histrory
New York is a financial capital, Toronto is not even a capital by any standards

Its fair to say New York has its own identity and Toronto tries to be like New York but failing miserably

Actually Toronto cannot be compared to Houston cause Houston is more lively atleast restaurants are open past 10 pm on a weekdays.

All true -- but you can't really compare Houston to Toronto either, Houston -- Calgary would make more sense. Toronto is nothing like Houston and Ontario is nothing like Texas, I would choose maybe Chicago.

 

[mrbeachman]

Canada fits the model of a nation that is on the brink of economic disaster.

I disagree.

Canada is very good at sucking the life out of immigrants and there will always be people ready to sell everything in their country to live the illusion of Canadian dream. Canada does not even need to advertise. If you speak another language and frequent the forums where people want to immigrate to Canada you will see how brainwashed the masses are.

Canada will do fine.

 

[emamabd]

I disagree.

there will always be people ready to sell everything in their country to live the illusion of Canadian dream. Canada does not even need to advertise. If you speak another language and frequent the forums where people want to immigrate to Canada you will see how brainwashed the masses are.

Canada will do fine.

I'm now selling my stuff in my home country and moving permanently to canada in a few weeks. So you can count me in - as one of those brainwashed who want to live the illusion of the canadian dream

 

[clubcanada]

I'm kind divided between your arguments. I absolutely agree with Newtone saying that in Canada you permanently are worried of finding a new job once you get fired as the job market is fairly small- I had exactly the same feeling. At the same time, in the US I would miss the health care plan as hetalth care is completely over-priced in the US and even with a plan you might have to pay a certain % (which can sum up to 5-6 digits! in bad cases). In addition, I would feel a bit unsafe in the US (never had this feeling in Canada) due to crime rate - it's hard to get used to it if you didn't grow up with it. But the country provides a greater opportunity, landscape, and weather....

And yes, taxes are higher in Canada but the safety net is much better. once it hits you you will appreciate it. It's also correct that Canada is dependent on the US - so if the US farts, it really stinks in Canada. However, so is the US indirectly dependent on China and Europe as well and I'm not sure how far this would impact my decision.

Nonetheless, bottom line is , there is no perfect country and you need to find out what's important to you and make your decision based on it. A country bashing is not helpful and leads to nowhere...

 

[Katayoon]

Bravo! a neat resume of canadian economy

so if the US farts, it really stinks in Canada.

 

[newtone]

Correction! the US farted with their whole Real Estate bubble but that didnt have any effect on the Canadian Real Estate. So its really not true that Canada is entirely dependent on USA

 

[clubcanada]

Correction! the US farted with their whole Real Estate bubble but that didnt have any effect on the Canadian Real Estate. So its really not true that Canada is entirely dependent on USA

real estate burst in US doesn't mean that real estate prices in Canada would go down (why should they?). however, the burst and the aftermath had a quite significant impact on TSX and Canadian wealth as well...

 

[Katayoon]

The relatively stable real estate market has been supported by immigrants' beliefs in the bright future of Canada fuelled by numerous rankings by "respected institutions" about how happy Canadians are. As soon as this investment optimism collapses, housing prices will start dropping.

 

[RocketCity]

Houston is one of the least expensive metropolitan areas to live in the US. Toronto is the 2nd most expensive city in Canada. Hardly an apples to apples comparison. Furthermore, I don't think it's fair to extrapolate Houston/Dallas/Austin to the rest of the US. For example, you would have to increase your salary by 66% to move from Houston to San Francisco to match your purchasing power. I think the best measure of affordability for a city is the median income to median house price ratio.

 

[newtone]

I think the best measure of affordability for a city is the median income to median house price ratio.

So if we go according to this logic then the average income in Toronto should be at least $250,000

but according to Stats Canada its only $67,000:

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/famil107a-eng.htm

Therefore for people to be able to afford average housing price of $800,000

http://www.thestar.com/business/real_estate/2013/10/03/home_prices_in_the_gta_continue_to_climb_despite_ottawas_efforts_to_cool_real_estate_market.html

In light of these facts......Can you please shed some light on how its possible for people to afford average price of house of over half a million dollars when mean income is only $67,000?

 

[mrbeachman]

In the world of endless money printing started by Ben Bernanke the price to income ratios no longer apply.

This is why the crowd that hopes for a real estate crash fails to realize.

We live in a controlled anarchy. Simple as that.

 

[newtone]

Endless money printing by Benny the American, Money Laundering and Mafia Canadian nation....."marriage made in Heaven"