15

I'm guessing reading wasnt your strong point...the OP wants to buy a little house....guess your illiteracy has caused you problems in the cognitive department...don't worry there's plenty of McJobs out there for you especially in the prairies where they will hire anyone with a pulse....so you just qualify!

Now back to something that matters, OP my point is $100K is chump change unless they have a job secured before arrival.
Having the engineering degree (field I am in) is a much better start than the education background, as you have a much wider choice of employment opportunities.
I know a number of people who's kids have a degree an education and they are looking or only doing part time work (as most prov. govts are cutting back on expenditures and teachers salaries are pretty high).
While the employment situation is better in Canada than the US, its not that much better once you take the resource industries out of play. And dependent where you live the cost of living is wayyyy cheaper in the US than Canada.
Our winter home is in AZ, and its about 50% COL vs. Toronto.
So dont have your friends discount the US as a place to find employment, as their $100K will go quite a bit further there if they choose a location wisely.

16

I'm guessing reading wasnt your strong point...the OP wants to buy a little house
Really??, thats your response? $350k IS a small house/condo

Ur an engineer....ahhhh your attitude makes sense now, funny thing is its my background to....I just don't talk down to people like many engineers do. My wife is a specialist, me, I specialize in stormwater (got out of the oil and gas finally), but like you have said... I'm sure there are many McJobs out there for me. You enjoy Az, maybe Il look for you down there when we head down in late November to meza on the golf course, teach you a little respect.

Btw, Where and who do you work for homer? Cant wait for your next witty insult!

17

"...unless you have a decent job history you arent getting a mortgage, so forget about buying unless you have $350K in hand."

Definitely not true. I found it pretty easy to get a mortgage and im about the least attractive candidate for a bank ever!

Only had my residency 2 years, self employed, very average income 10% deposit between me and my girl...

18

Ps..before you posture on it, yes, I know its Mesa, not Meza lol

19

It's fairly universally accepted that cost of living in Edmonton is among the highest in the country - booming economy in Alberta has largely been behind that. It's telling that my military friends who live there get a large extra allowance to balance out the cost of living against other places in Canada. Montreal is generally a fairly inexpensive place to live, housing costs there seem to be much lower according to my friends who live there. And while taxes are higher there than AB, you get a fair bit for them - a provincial day care system being one thing that attracts young families, it seems.

20

It does not take much time to research housing costs in Canada....housing is very expensive. $100,000. may get you a trailer, with a bit left over for a very used car.

21

there are no jobs for foreign trained teachers.
they have to basically do BEd again to get licence.
the only teachers that are in demand in english speaking BC are french teachers, not because we love french but because government makes kids take it. ( but not learn it, almost nobody speaks it anyways).
$100K if you have no job will be gone very fast. it is a decent downpayment for a house in a not attractive part of the country- forget anything civilized.

22

a for teaqchers subs get 180 per day once full 60k or more. principles make more than the pm. 100k will not get you any house anywhere other than in the bush 200k from city. jobs competiive. as for teaching you will start at zero. it is what is known as the old boys network. teachers kids have first crack at jobs its who you know proffesion for sure.

23

Montreal Toronto and Vancouver ( in that order ) are the only places in Canada that are actually reasonable to live in.
Yes- it is expensive- good jobs are scarce indeed and people who have a choice usually go to the US. Aside from the cities just mentioned Canada is amazingly provincial and it is practically impossible to get any but the most menial job unless you have the "connections"- it is no joke - there are lots of doctors driving cabs in Canada.
Anybody who seriously wants to emigrate would be very well advised to get a job offer before coming...unless you want to be a burger flipper @ MickeyD's.
I have lived here (almost :) all my life and I stay just because I really do like this country ( warts and all ) and am not really that comfortable anywhere else.

24

Possibly unknown to your friends are that there are websites & specialists who assist in immigration that they could consult. There are many options available. In Canada there is a significant interest in attracting foreign skilled labour. I live in an area that has seen its population grow by 22% in the past 5 years thanks to immigration. Housing prices have certainly risen due to increased demand & school systems are taxed as many many families arrive & schools are over flowing. Of greater note is that I work in the 'settlement sector' which means my office assists newcomers to the area register for medical care, schools, tax bennifits, etc. Additionally there is a significant Russian population in our area, a much smaller Egyptian one (though many local doctors on contract are Egyptian). We find that reasons for immigration vary by country - family attachment, religious freedoms, economics are key. Many immigrants do not arrive with a job offer. The service sector in Canada is HUGE. And I am not refering to people who serve in hospitality proffessions. Rather the focus on providing english classes, daycare, medical services, disability services etc. It might be why our unemployment rate is as high as it is. Your friends should talk to proffessionals to determine what the costs will be vs the gains. I suggest they come prepared to work at available work while they perfect english or french skills, and then attempt to find work in their specialty areas.

25

the average house price in Canada is $340K

housing prices vary wildly. my parents are trying to sell their beautiful 3 bedroom home, 2 full bath, large front/back yard, 3 bed apartment attached--260K. in a small city. in toronto, they could easily get 4 times that.

does your friend really need to buy?

26

And in vancouver you wouldnt be able to buy a studio for that....
Where are they?

27

east coast. you could sell your house and start a property empire out there.

28

If you want to be paid well to teach, head north. Teachers in the NWT are the highest paid in the country. Teachers there make $60-116K depending on education and teaching experience. You would get northern allowance in addition to this, which in some places can be $25K or more.

However you get northern allowance for a reason, everything is more expensive.

29

No kidding! It's been years since I heard someone say they'd rather work in the states!