Victoria Area - Info Request
Mar 21st 2006, 12:25 am
#16
Lotus-eater
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Cascadian Autonomous Elysian Region
Posts: 5,069
Re: Victoria Area - Info Request
Originally Posted by CalgaryBlade
Rich.
Mar 21st 2006, 6:13 am
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 139
Re: Victoria Area - Info Request
Originally Posted by CalgaryBlade
We're not moving on permanently for a while, probably not until our children finish high school. But it never hurts to do some planning. It took us 10 years to move from the UK to Canada and in all that time we were researching and planning (and saving).
As for Calgary:
The whole family enjoys living here. Generally it's a clean city, business is booming, plenty of jobs, good schools (lots of choices), clean air, sunshine, great for kids etc, etc.
As I said we did plenty of research on Canadian cities before moving from London (UK). Based on the lifestyle we wanted and as well as the financial set up we wanted Calgary ticked the most boxes. We like Vancouver too but there's now way we could live in a similar house to what we have here and be only a mile or so away from the city centre.
But in the same way as Calgary was a downshift from London for us in terms of the rat-race, commute, both parents working etc, there may come a time when we want to downshift further hence the interest in Van Island especially if, as predicted, Calgary gets busier.
One has to remember that Calgary is the fastest growing city in North America and is starting to sprawl. As more people move here, the edge of the city gets further from the centre. The public transit is clean and reliable but can't keep pace with housing development. This means more cars on the roads etc. Which is good news for those who own houses closer to the centre as it causes prices rise at a faster rate as they become more desirable
The other downside to being in a booming city for many is the cost of housing. Prices in Calgary have gone crazy in the last year or so. e.g. We've had our house 18 months and, according to similar houses sold in our area recently, it's value has gone up by 60%. That's in CAD, if we were to move here now with the current CAD/GBP rate I doubt we'd even look at it because in GBP it's pretty much doubled in value :scared:
Things may steady out, and I hope so as it's unsustainable.
But as a current example of boom pricing:
How much?
Okay, not an average house but even so that's a lot of cash.
As for Calgary:
The whole family enjoys living here. Generally it's a clean city, business is booming, plenty of jobs, good schools (lots of choices), clean air, sunshine, great for kids etc, etc.
As I said we did plenty of research on Canadian cities before moving from London (UK). Based on the lifestyle we wanted and as well as the financial set up we wanted Calgary ticked the most boxes. We like Vancouver too but there's now way we could live in a similar house to what we have here and be only a mile or so away from the city centre.
But in the same way as Calgary was a downshift from London for us in terms of the rat-race, commute, both parents working etc, there may come a time when we want to downshift further hence the interest in Van Island especially if, as predicted, Calgary gets busier.
One has to remember that Calgary is the fastest growing city in North America and is starting to sprawl. As more people move here, the edge of the city gets further from the centre. The public transit is clean and reliable but can't keep pace with housing development. This means more cars on the roads etc. Which is good news for those who own houses closer to the centre as it causes prices rise at a faster rate as they become more desirable
The other downside to being in a booming city for many is the cost of housing. Prices in Calgary have gone crazy in the last year or so. e.g. We've had our house 18 months and, according to similar houses sold in our area recently, it's value has gone up by 60%. That's in CAD, if we were to move here now with the current CAD/GBP rate I doubt we'd even look at it because in GBP it's pretty much doubled in value :scared:
Things may steady out, and I hope so as it's unsustainable.
But as a current example of boom pricing:
How much?
Okay, not an average house but even so that's a lot of cash.
Wow - 10 years planning before moving, that's dedication and determination for you.
Kind Regards
Mar 21st 2006, 11:50 am
#18
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,715
Re: Victoria Area - Info Request
Originally Posted by CalgaryBlade
But in the same way as Calgary was a downshift from London for us in terms of the rat-race, commute, both parents working etc, there may come a time when we want to downshift further hence the interest in Van Island especially if, as predicted, Calgary gets busier.
Mar 21st 2006, 12:07 pm
#19
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,715
Re: Victoria Area - Info Request
Originally Posted by CalgaryBlade
But as a current example of boom pricing:
How much?
Okay, not an average house but even so that's a lot of cash.
How much?
Okay, not an average house but even so that's a lot of cash.
And wouldn't you know it... the same amount of of dough can get you a 2 bedroom condo in Vancouver.
http://www.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.as...ertyID=4151280
Is does come with drapes though, so...
Mar 21st 2006, 12:13 pm
#20
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Calgary
Posts: 605
Re: Victoria Area - Info Request
Originally Posted by happylandings
Wow - 10 years planning before moving, that's dedication and determination for you.
Anyway, due to one thing and another we didn't return to live permanently until 2004. However, in those intervening years we travelled once a year to see the in-laws in southern Ont and had some great hols there. (Lions Head, Bruce Peninsular, Tobermory, Flower Pot Island). In 2002 we headed west for our hols to the Rockies and realised what is was that we were looking for.
BTW I was in danger of losing my PR status, but around 2001 CIC changed the rules and allowed "living with a Canadian spouse abroad" to count as time spent in Canada. Woo-hoo, no re-application or medicals.
