Playing devils advocate, what happens if you don't like it or lose the job? WP is tied to one employer.

very true, yes, very true, i know i have alot to think and work out. i might just apply for the job, but i am not going to rush into anything and yes i think we will visit canada first, but i will research each state first. thank you so much for your reply.

Province mate, Province

I came here in a work permit and it worked out OK for me, but I was young free and single back then, so less to worry about.

You cant really decide if its worth the potential downside without visiting I suspect... but I took a leap of faith based on three days here for an interview

sorry. province.... yes i understand its easier when your single. how long do you have to be working with your employer on the WP until you can apply for PR

I think that you will love Calgary, it is a great place to live for families should you choose the right neighborhood to live in. What does your wife do? There are lots of homes being built and custom cabinet workers are and will be in demand for time to come. I would be happt to answer any further questions you have regarding Calgary and relocating here.

Crystal

Probably has an answer in the wiki... the rules have all changed since my day.

Would a realtor say anything different... I cant imagine one ever saying "Dont buy that house, I dont want the commision on the sale"

Please, be a bit less obvious with the sales pitch and we will get along fine. Take the time to read the rules and I wont have to delete too many of your posts.

I never said to buy anything now did I? I reside in Calgary and love the city but is does come down to where you live, some areas are better than others. Oh and yes I have told people not to buy a house when it was not right for them and yes refused a "commission" as you refer to. I genuinely want the best for all people- don't judge a book by its cover!

What sales pitch, there was no sales pitch. So you just want to moderate out any comments made by a Realtor just because that is the line of work I happen to be in. No one knows more about relocation than a Realtor and I thought some of the people on this forum could use some honest advice, no sales pitch!

Previous experience of the reaction of other realtors here in the past Im afraid. Please read and head the PM I have sent to you.

Seriously, Yes, Calgary is nice enough and has much going for it if you can hack the climate, but is it really a good idea to blindly encourage a married man with a kid to take a job on a temp permit in Calgary for potentially as little as 45k without thinking it through very carefully? Those great neighbourhoods are nice, but are they affordable on that income for a newcomer, complete with associated newcomer expenses like 4digit car insurance premiums and all the other expenses of upping sticks and moving to Canada?

Calgary is nice, but there are plenty of other nice places in Canada that perhaps you havent lived in too

Explain please the comment hack the climate.

I do suspect with the user name you have chosen, many will view yours posts with some degree skepticism. I would not agree that Realtors are the gurus of relocation either, certainly not from my experience.

Maybe January and 20c in the morning and -20c after lunch, 2 feet of snow in May, possibility of frost pretty much every month.

Yep, lets use the extremes as an example of everyday life.

That's always a good idea.

Yes maybe the wrong user name indeed.
Each realtor has thier own expertise, some are good with relocation, while others are not, so it all depends on who you are dealing with I suppose.