JulianW

We've been comtemplating the jump to Canada, the living looks good, the pay looks good and the general outlook doesn't look too bad either but trying to get a visa without it being sponsored by a company doesn't look easy at all and finding a company that will offer you a job and then sponsor your visa isn't easy either. I think we've come to that point where we're going to give up on the thought for a few years and then look again to see if the visa / jobs situation has gotten any easier.

Best of luck on your job hunt in Australia.

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papa-bear

Julian,

I would check again on the Canadian government pages. If I recall the news in the past 6 months, they have changed the regulations again and it should be easier to come over if you the right professional skills and I think IT and general technical are in there. The market is pretty hot out here on the West coast from what I understand (haven't been looking myself).

try Welcome to Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Benefits of this side of the country are the moderate temperatures (not extreme hot / cold and is not that humid), mountains, ocean. Being able to ski, mountain bike and dive or play golf all on the same day if you really want to. Average interest rate for a 5 year mortgage is about 5.6% and droping.

down side, there is a bit more rain but you are probably used to that and the housing market is just stupid right now but they expect it to level off very quickly (my place almost doubled in value over the past 3 years).

Born and bread here in Vancouver. Funny thing is we are thinking of coming over your side of the pond some time in our lives. Not to England though, up to Sweden. Are we never happy where we are?

monkeylizard

Wow. They must pay really well in Canuckistan or your housing is really cheap.

MSYoung

After 5 years what does the mortgage jump to? That is what is causing so many folks here to lose their homes.

For the first five years they pay $800 a month, then it jumps to $2000 a month or higher. The prices of homes are dropping so they can't get their home refinanced because it is worth less than it did when they bought it so they have no equity in it.

People are walking away from their homes because they have a $500,000 loan on a house now worth $400,000 and an imminent mortgage increase doubling or tripling their payment.

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Marty

papa-bear

When I bought back in 1995, it was ~7% and each time I have renewed (typically 4 year terms, this last one a 3 year) it was with rates between 5 and 6% I don't recall the exact amounts. We have been very lucky with our market and rates.

I don't think I would go with one of the deals where you get a very low rate for x years then have it jump. I have been successful with using the shorter terms over the lowest amortization period I could afford monthly payments for.

Lucky for me as I said, our housing market is hot right now so prices have gone up. I don't think I would want to be entering the market right now even with the lower interest rates.

jack

I read about a Canuck invasion that is taking advantage of our "Mortgage Crisis" . Mostly in the warmer parts i.e, Kali., Arizona, etc.

The story I read included organized trips 'south' to take advantage of the situation that folks put themselves into. These trips were organized by realtors on both side of the border.

With the good Canuk exchange rate against our $ many Canucker's were spending their retirement savings on the bargins south of the border.

I need to find all of my Canuk quarters and exchange them in now, I use to keep them for play money for the kids.

Oh my what has happened here?

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JulianW

Just took the skilled worker assesment for Canadian Immigration and I score 72 without having lined up a job (the pass mark is 67 currently and +10 if you have a job lined up). I think I'll be looking into this more seriously now although my (distant) family that live in Canada are just north of Toronto so are on the east and you're telling me the weather and the jobs situation is preferable towards the west coast.

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"Artificial Intelligence usually beats natural stupidity."

ABabbitt

To bad SD isn't chiming in here. Julian if you have the chance or thought of moving to Toronto or anywhere near it.. do it. Toronto is a fine place to start and then move West as the opportunity arises. Enjoy the adventure!

Pirates_Ghost

as to the Oz question...depends on which side your moving to.
My sis and her lover are in the West, and there are afew openings.
Visa wise, you'd be best off to jump to KIWIville for a time to establish citezenship, them moving north to Oz..easier ins that way.

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