Originally Posted by familylark

You may find it difficult to get a credit card or any credit from financial institutions should you need too.

Originally Posted by CaptainHook

Consider a secured credit card, where you put usually 150% of the card limit aside and you get back after the 3? yr if you've kept your payments up to date.

Originally Posted by woodmanbg

We had to do this to get a higher limit on a credit card through CIBC. They held our money in a special account and at the end of twelve months (not 3 years) without prompting them they contacted us to see where we would like the money invested.

Originally Posted by moondevil

We went through RBC and they never asked for deposit, but then we have savings with them, so not sure how that goes.
i would say to any newcomer...speak to them face to face, i know it helped us

Originally Posted by The Ross Family

Michelle

Like Moondevil I would recommend Eamonn & Janet. My husband is currently in Calgary and has been greatly assisted by Eamonn.

Well done for sticking by your guns and I hope that it all works out for you.

We are due out on 19th February. Don't forget your thermals!

The Ross Family

Originally Posted by PaulOK

Hi Michelle

My wife and I have been in Calgary since September so PM me and I'll be happy to give you some advice. We too will be applying for fast track PR in the next couple of months (at the moment we are here on 2 year TWPs) so maybe we can help each other with the documentation needed.

In terms of renting, the best areas to live are the NW and SW parts of the city. Tuscany (NW) is nice and also around the Glenmore Reservior (SW) - a 3/4 bed house should be around $1800 per month exc. utlities - although rental prices are dropping so bargain. See the www.rentfaster.ca website to see what's available. Avoid the North East and East area due to the higher than average crime in those areas.
Generally, we love Calgary although the city has grown rapidly and the infrastructure hasn't really been designed to cope with the expansion. The economy has cooled in the past few months but the city is better placed than most to weather the hard economic times (although the city's wealth is largely dependant on oil so what happens in that sector is crucial). The weather is bitterly cold compared to anything you will experience in GB so be prepared. Just before Xmas it was minus 40 C with the wind chill but recently it has averaged around -10 C which feels almost warm in comparision. Crime and the homeless problem is noticable. We have had our car broken into already and Vietnamese/Chinese street gangs have been shooting each other recently, although this tends to be confined to the eastern quadrants. Don't let this put you off though. Generally it's a great place.

Good Luck

Paul

Originally Posted by MCWakefield

My Husband will be working in the North West area of Calgary and as a few of you have suggested, we are going to concentrate of finding somewhere to rent in that area to avoid commuting. Still have no idea which communities in the North West of Calgary are desirable but at least I have an area to concentrate on.

Originally Posted by woodmanbg

We had to do this to get a higher limit on a credit card through CIBC. They held our money in a special account and at the end of twelve months (not 3 years) without prompting them they contacted us to see where we would like the money invested.