Vancouver A Good Place to Emigrate To!

[Hock]

Eg. The price that you have settled on a house is $200K. The mortgage on it is $180K. The current owners walk out of the house, you take over the mortgage of the house and carry on the monthly payment.

If u see the prices of the house going thru the roof (best way to capitalize on the market).

In other words, you bought the house for $180K by taking over the mortgage loan.

 

[johnny333]

Yes, more than double Have relatives living in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal. Property prices in Alberta gone thru the roof. In early 2000, my relative house in Edmonton was worth around $130k........

All I can say is cheep, cheep, cheep

Living in Spore where the unrealistic property prices is the norm, I've become de-sensitized to the ridiculous prices in Spore.

 

[Asychee]

In other words, you bought the house for $180K by taking over the mortgage loan.

the mortgage is 180K + your cash you put in is $20K.

 

[ak168]

Canada versus Singapore - Pros & Cons

Hi Guys,

Am attempting to consolidate the information from this forum and compile a summary on the benefit of migrating to Canada versus staying in Singapore. Please feel free to add and comment if I have missed out anything (which am sure I will) Due to my limited knowledge on this topic compare to some of you already there, i could only put in that little I know just to kick start ...would appreciate any input you may have along the way .....I believe a summary like this will benefit alot of our new immigrant to Canada from Singapore or even act as a reminder to what Singaporean are missing....

1) House ownership

Canada : Cheaper and you own your house
Singapore : Expensive and mostly lease but own by Govt

2) Cost of living

Canada : High in commensurate to it high wages
Singapore : Recent report from UBS from one of the thread said Expensive and is equal to Russian standard. High cost of living with low disposable income

3) Education

Canada : First class education with many good uni to choose from and a different in focus, more problem solving than pure academic result orientated.
Singapore : First class education with pure academic result orientated


4) Income Tax

Canada : Much higher
Singapore : Lower


5) Wages (subjective)

Canada : Higher
Singapore : Basically lower paid across board

6) Weather

Canada : Experience 4 seasons
Singapore : Permanently summer

7) Lifestyle- Life balance (subjective)

Canada : Exciting, more nature and outdoor places to go
Singapore : Boring

8) Medical coverage

Canada : Comprehensive coverage - one of the best in the world and don't have to pre-pay upfront. Minimum fee.
Singapore : Pay yourself, low govt subsidy but high efficiency available round the clock. To die is cheaper than being sick here due to the high fees.

9) Car ownership

Canada : Cheaper
Singapore : Expensive

 

[neddy]

Re: Canada versus Singapore - Pros & Cons

Hi Guys,

Am attempting to consolidate the information from this forum and compile a summary on the benefit of migrating to Canada versus staying in Singapore. Please feel free to add and comment if I have missed out anything (which am sure I will) Due to my limited knowledge on this topic compare to some of you already there, i could only put in that little I know just to kick start ...would appreciate any input you may have along the way .....I believe a summary like this will benefit alot of our new immigrant to Canada from Singapore or even act as a reminder to what Singaporean are missing....

1) House ownership

Canada : Cheaper and you own your house
Singapore : Expensive and mostly lease but own by Govt

2) Cost of living

Canada : High in commensurate to it high wages
Singapore : Recent report from UBS from one of the thread said Expensive and is equal to Russian standard. High cost of living with low disposable income

3) Education

Canada : First class education with many good uni to choose from and a different in focus, more problem solving than pure academic result orientated.
Singapore : First class education with pure academic result orientated


4) Income Tax

Canada : Much higher
Singapore : Lower


5) Wages (subjective)

Canada : Higher
Singapore : Expensive and mostly lease

6) Weather

Canada : Experience 4 seasons
Singapore : Permanently summer

7) Lifestyle- Life balance (subjective)

Canada : Exciting, more nature and outdoor places to go
Singapore : Boring

8) Medical coverage

Canada : Comprehensive coverage - one of the best in the world and don't have to pre-pay upfront. Minimum fee.
Singapore : Pay yourself, low govt subsidy but high efficiency available round the clock. To die is cheaper than being sick here due to the high fees.

9) Car ownership

Canada : Cheaper
Singapore : Expensive

You guys from Canada are a good informative lot. Unlike that clown who is jealous of Australia and use all kinds of nicks to make mess up this forum.

 

[johnny333]

Re: Canada versus Singapore - Pros & Cons

4) Income Tax

Canada : Much higher
Singapore : Lower

We all know Canadian income tax is higher but they don't charge gst on food, medication, school supplies, ... They do not have all the hidden taxes that you find in Spore that is driving the cost of living: gov't owned utilities & public transport, COE, ERP,...

 

[Charlie9]

Re: Canada versus Singapore - Pros & Cons

Please read my comments in green.

Hi Guys,

Am attempting to consolidate the information from this forum and compile a summary on the benefit of migrating to Canada versus staying in Singapore. Please feel free to add and comment if I have missed out anything (which am sure I will) Due to my limited knowledge on this topic compare to some of you already there, i could only put in that little I know just to kick start ...would appreciate any input you may have along the way .....I believe a summary like this will benefit alot of our new immigrant to Canada from Singapore or even act as a reminder to what Singaporean are missing....

1) House ownership

Canada : Cheaper and you own your house
Singapore : Expensive and mostly lease but own by Govt
I submit that the cost of owning a freehold real property is comparatively cheaper in Canada based on the price divided by the average annual salary.

2) Cost of living

Canada : High in commensurate to it high wages
Singapore : Recent report from UBS from one of the thread said Expensive and is equal to Russian standard. High cost of living with low disposable income
When I first arrived in Toronto, an older gentleman who came from Europe after the Second World War, and is a bricklayer (and built a house for himself, son and daughter) gave me the following advice: consider how many hours you have to work to buy a loaf of bread, a litre of milk, 10 kg of potatoes, a chicken, a steak, etc.

3) Education

Canada : First class education with many good uni to choose from and a different in focus, more problem solving than pure academic result orientated.
Singapore : First class education with pure academic result orientated
I am not trying to discourage ambition, determination, drive, and perseverance, but in Canada, school dropouts (till now) are able to survive, unlike the very competitive SG system. In addition, I believe that Canada offers downside protection in the event that all your efforts and attempts did not make you financially successful.

4) Income Tax

Canada : Much higher
Singapore : Lower
The income tax rates are very progressive, but as the original writer indicated there are several indirect taxes in SG. I am a capitalist, and not a socialist, but I believe that the high and progressive income taxes enable the government to fund the free medicare and the various social benefits.

5) Wages (subjective)

Canada : Higher
Singapore : Basically lower paid across board
Comparatively higher, except for the SG civil service, legal service and politicians whom I believe are paid significantly higher than the Canadians.

6) Weather

Canada : Experience 4 seasons
Singapore : Permanently summer
From my 28 plus years of experience, I believe that the distinct seasons allow the human body to rise and fall (may sleep more in the winter than summer), as well as rejuvenate, such as spring is a season for religious and natural renewal. I love the extended daylight hours in spring and summer, but dread the extended darknesses (if I am able to travel to the tropics for 2 months during the winter would be ideal).

7) Lifestyle- Life balance (subjective)

Canada : Exciting, more nature and outdoor places to go
Singapore : Boring

There is a more varied and balanced lifestyle in Canada, and numerous picturesque scenery to treat your eyes. If you like hiking, skiing, water sports, and the outdoors (including hunting deer, moose, etc.) you will most probably love Canada.

8) Medical coverage

Canada : Comprehensive coverage - one of the best in the world and don't have to pre-pay upfront. Minimum fee.
Singapore : Pay yourself, low govt subsidy but high efficiency available round the clock. To die is cheaper than being sick here due to the high fees.

For now, there is comprehensive medicare, but for how long. Sometimes, I am a pessimist, to force me to plan for contingencies, and consider alternatives.

9) Car ownership

Canada : Cheaper
Singapore : Expensive
Owing and operating a motor vehicle is definely much cheaper in Canada.

Finally, I believe that immigrants arrive with the hope that their children and grandchildren will have a better life. As for me, I may not be as financially successful as my SG schoolmates, but at the end of the day, I believe that the quality of life, more balanced lifestyle, and if I choose to work less (which I have been doing for the past 2 to 3 years), I have no pressure, has made me a better individual with a broader perspective in life. Although my calendar age is going on 52, I believe that my biological and physical age (based on my health, stamina, muscular strength, etc. vis-a-vis when I left SG, except for my graying and balding head) is about 45. With God's Blessings, I hope to live a healthy life till about 80, with an alert and sharp mind, physically independent, fit, trim and relatively strong.

Even if you do not succeed as an immigrant to Canada, I believe that your children will achieve a better life. Start early and as young as you possibly can. Do not allow doubts and the negative opinions of others to influence you. You are emigrating, not them. Go for it!

 

[neddy]

Re: Canada versus Singapore - Pros & Cons

Please read my comments in green.



Even if you do not succeed as an immigrant to Canada, I believe that your children will achieve a better life. Start early and as young as you possibly can. Do not allow doubts and the negative opinions of others to influence you. You are emigrating, not them. Go for it!

I think this is the best advice anyone has given in this Emigration forum. And you should have good expectation for yourselves as well, not just your kids.

I can sum up my migration experience as Expectation > Honeymoon > Disappointment > Enlightening > Happiness & Inner peace (I become a better person through all the experiences)

 

[Charlie9]

Migration Experience

I think this is the best advice anyone has given in this Emigration forum. And you should have good expectation for yourselves as well, not just your kids.

I can sum up my migration experience as Expectation > Honeymoon > Disappointment > Enlightening > Happiness & Inner peace (I become a better person through all the experiences)

Good for You. CONGRATULATIONS!

Peace and Comfort (or contentment) or an le in Mandarin.

As in my provision of client service, provide an estimate of expectations, say a possible recovery of 20 to 30 cents on the dollar (be conservative), and when you realized 42 cents on the dollar for them, they are happy because you exceeded their expectations. I refer to it as the Expectations Gap.

 

[ak168]

Re: Canada versus Singapore - Pros & Cons

I think this is the best advice anyone has given in this Emigration forum. And you should have good expectation for yourselves as well, not just your kids.

I can sum up my migration experience as Expectation > Honeymoon > Disappointment > Enlightening > Happiness & Inner peace (I become a better person through all the experiences)

Well said.....I think I am in the Enlightening phase now and I really hoping to smell the next phase of Happiness & Inner peace in 1 to 2 years time after fully settled in Canada.

Thanks guy for the Encouragement jab..

 

[Asychee]

Re: Canada versus Singapore - Pros & Cons

Car

I just changed my car from 08 Chrysler regular Aspen to the new 09 Chryler hybrid ASPEN LIMITED HEV 4X4 - $C62,000 nia. The very top of the range with all the bells and whistles. It is a pleasure to drive - especially long drive into the National Parks that stretch for miles and miles.

In Sg, what can $62,000 get you - u do the maths.

 

[ashjaw]

Re: Canada versus Singapore - Pros & Cons

I think this is the best advice anyone has given in this Emigration forum. And you should have good expectation for yourselves as well, not just your kids.

I can sum up my migration experience as Expectation > Honeymoon > Disappointment > Enlightening > Happiness & Inner peace (I become a better person through all the experiences)

I really appreciate Neddy and Charlie9 for the posts you have written recently, it has been very motivating. Thanks guys, the threads in this forum should reflect both pros and cons so that one who is contemplating on making the move knows what to expect.

 

[Charlie9]

Thank You for the Compliment

I really appreciate Neddy and Charlie9 for the posts you have written recently, it has been very motivating. Thanks guys, the threads in this forum should reflect both pros and cons so that one who is contemplating on making the move knows what to expect.

Thank you for the compliment.

Emigration is not every individual. An individual must be motivated, determined, continue to serve and strive for the future. Decades ago, when I was contemplating wther to remain in Canada or to return to SG, an old friend from our university days said: SG may be growing rapidly, but it is a fly wheel and may fly off the main engine, whereas Canada is a huge land mass growing slowly, and there is a time and place for everything.

 

[johnny333]

Re: Thank You for the Compliment

Emigration is not every individual. An individual must be motivated, determined, continue to serve and strive for the future. .

Sadly for many Sporeans emigration is no longer a luxury but has become a necessity. There are more push factors than pull factors thanks to the policies of the PAP.

How can someone call a hotel a home

 

[larky28]

Why Canada is bad according to this Sporean who migrated and come back.
Crosspost from CNA

nav14
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 6:21 am Post subject:

Anyone wishing to migrate to Canada should be prepared to cut their life short if they get a critical illness.

It takes 6 mths to get an MRI done
It takes a few weeks to get a bypass operation doen even after getting a heart attack.

All because medical facilities are inadequate due to lack of money as a result of the very liberal medical insuarnce plans.

Things are way more inefficient as compared to Singapore.

Courtesy and customer service levels surprisingly are not as good as Singapore even though you will find more patient drivers on the road.

Overseas qualifications are not recognised even though their university standards are nothing compared to those in Singapore. For them the world revolves around them.

Policiticians are all bunch of liars and all you read is headlines on which politician has been caught lying, etc.

Good plolicies never get approved due to the political structure.

The only postive things are a cheap larger houses and cars. I migrated to Canada in 91 and returned soon after. My parents are still residing there with my sister. Currently I am making a posting from Vancouver where I reached last Sunday as my mum had a heart attack. She is due for a bypass operation but the hospital cannot confirm when the operation will be since no operation theatre is available. In Singapore such a critical operation would have been done within 48 hrs.

Every time I visited Canada to see my parents, the more grateful I am of making the right choice of coming back home to Singapore. This is the best decision I have made in my life - to return home. I realised when I was in Canada life is not all about large cheap houses, cars and a more lesisurely lifestyle.

Those who want to migrate to Canada or US or even UK should pray hard you do not get stricken by a crticial illness because that is when you wish you were back in Singapore. Living a longer life due to better medical care is much better than dying prematurely from a heart attack or cancer where you go to enjoy better weather, large houses and cheap cars.

Only fools or born losers will migrate from Singapore

 

[larky28]

Why Canada is bad according to this Sporean who migrated and come back.
Crosspost from CNA

nav14
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:44 am Post subject:
I looked out of the hospital window of a hospital in Vancouver where my mum is warded and I see ambulances with the words"On strike" written all over it. Can you imagine amubulances going on strike even though it could be more of a go slow kind of thing?

I go through the most popular paper in Vancouver - "Vancouver Sun" and there is no more than 3/4 of a page dedicated to world news.

Yes there are many open spaces and opportunities for quick weekend getaways just 2-3 hours drive away but then again with the expansion of cheap budget airlines, one can go for a quick weekend trip to Phuket , Bali or Langkawi from Singapore.

Yes many parents migrate because they want a easier going education and lifestyle for their kids. But have they conveniently overlooked the higher crime rate and negative influences they kids will be exposed to. There are no strict gun laws and many kids from middle class families end up in drug trafficking because of the easy money and relaxed laws. How would they feel after sacrificing their own happiness to have their kids behave like the americans or canadians and walks out at the age of 18 yrs old and wants to have an independent life.

No country is perfect including Singapore. But after weighing all pros and cons I feel that Singapore has more pull factors than these western countries.

For those in the lower strata, migration may be a better option as there might be a quantum leap in quality of life but not so for those in the middle and upper strata of society here.

One more thing. Keeping a maid is almost impossible in these western countries and that makes a huge difference to the quality of life. Parents wil have to do all the poo work themselves including cooking at home on a regular basis due to the inaccessibility of restaurants and how expensive it can be. No such thing as $3 hawker food 24hrs around the clock.

I know of many Singaporeans having so little time for their kids in these western countries sincece all their spare time is spent cleaning up and cooking.

Many expat wives here persuade their husbands to stay here to stay here for as long as possible while their kids are still young as they can never get the same quality of life back home with no maid.

Many parents migrate and sacrifice their happiness for their kids sake. Is is really worth it. Should one sacrifice so much just to see their kids walk out on them

 

[johnny333]

I agree that politicans are a bunch of liars. Only have to look at what politicians say & do in Singapore, or rather don't do

The important thing is whether you can get rid of these politicians
You only have to look at where the worlds highest politicians live

I once asked a Canadian why he voted for different parties in the federal & provincial elections. Back then I was a very naive Sporean For those puzzled about his response, its about dividing & preventing people like LKY from monopolising power.

 

[fishbuff]

"...One more thing. Keeping a maid is almost impossible in these western countries and that makes a huge difference to the quality of life. Parents wil have to do all the poo work themselves including cooking at home on a regular basis due to the inaccessibility of restaurants and how expensive it can be. No such thing as $3 hawker food 24hrs around the clock.

I know of many Singaporeans having so little time for their kids in these western countries sincece all their spare time is spent cleaning up and cooking.

Many expat wives here persuade their husbands to stay here to stay here for as long as possible while their kids are still young as they can never get the same quality of life back home with no maid.

Many parents migrate and sacrifice their happiness for their kids sake. Is is really worth it. Should one sacrifice so much just to see their kids walk out on them "

geez, that is really myopic. from what i see; poster enjoyed or addicted to cheap services/food at the expense of the service providers' well being; who slog long hours for extremely low wages.

 

[Charlie9]

Maids and Quality if Life

Why Canada is bad according to this Sporean who migrated and come back.
Crosspost from CNA

For those like me, who has never had a maid (while growing up in SG, and during 28 plus years in Canada), we will never experience the "quality of life"

I believe that financially rich individuals may choose to live anywhere, but if Singapore offers such a desirable quality of life, efficient (but is it affordable?) medicare, etc., I would like to ask why are there not more Canadians (and individuals from countries who respect democracy, freedom of speech, human rights, just and justice, etc.) rushing to live in Singapore.

Emigration is not for every individual. If one is not willing to do without a maid, a gardener, etc., then one should not emigrate to Canada.

I have a classmate in SG, who lives in a S$23 million home (the price purchased more than 15 years ago), who told me that they could not live in Canada because they would have to do many things themseleves, whereas they have 2 maids, a gardener, and a chauffeur (4 cars). Their living room is bigger than my main floor; their TV room / karaoke room is bigger than my second floor; they have a swimming pool. My quality of life is not even close to theirs. But how many Singaporeans live like them.

 

[axe168]

"...One more thing. Keeping a maid is almost impossible in these western countries and that makes a huge difference to the quality of life. Parents wil have to do all the poo work themselves including cooking at home on a regular basis due to the inaccessibility of restaurants and how expensive it can be. No such thing as $3 hawker food 24hrs around the clock..

I disagree. You should move to Melbourne asap Boxhill chinese restaurants open until 4-5am.. 24hrs pancake & pizza restaurants everywhere closed to the city. This includes K-mart for late hours shopping.

My wifey and I are both professionals. We had few fights over who's cooking and cleaning.. now it is as smooth as silk.. I have spare time to DIY (self taught) garage mechanic and hse renovation. Next 2-3mth I intend to ship 1 container of kitchen, wardrobe, tiles etc.. currently negotiating with China suppliers and talking to some Melbourne trades-chinamen.. verrrrry cheapppppp... but the planning, dimensions etc can kill me ;(

There are plenty of things to do in Melbourne.. if only ya here.. too bad :(