Introduction - on this page you will find links to
details of Canadian
villas for sale,
Canadian rental accommodation and shared housing in
Canada. Canada is the second largest country in the world, although much
of it in the north is uninhabitable. Canada is bordered to the east by the
Atlantic Ocean, and west by the Pacific Ocean and Alaska. Greenland borders it
to the northeast, and the United States of America lies to the south. Its
capital is Ottowa and its currency the Canadian dollar. Canada has 10 provinces:
British Columbia, New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island,
Ontario, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland. It also has 3
territories: the Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory and Nunavut. It has a
population of 32.6 million. Canada has a very diverse landscape, with vast
mountain ranges (Rocky Mountains in the West), many lakes (Great Lakes in the
Southeast), well known rivers such as St Lawrence River, and the world famous
Niagara Falls. There are also vast areas of fertile plains, and forests. Up in
the Canadian north near the Arctic tundra is the best place for wildlife. Canada
is also known for its maple syrup (the maple leaf being on the national flag
since 1965), and its “Mounties” who are the Canadian Police Force who operate on
horseback. Canada’s 38 national parks include Banff, the oldest established in
1885. There are 836 national historic sites, in honour of events, people and
places that have made the country’s history, and large number of UNESCO World
Heritage Sites. Canada has two languages: French and English, arising from the
various times when Canada was under French and English rule. The Scottish and
Irish also had an influence in Canadian history. About 70% of Canadians speak
only English, but other areas, such as Quebec, have significant number of its
population only speaking French and there are areas where people are bi-lingual.
Canada’s climate varies widely from the bitter cold of the Arctic north, to the
more temperate areas in the south. Canada is a land of vast open spaces and a
generally relaxed pace, with a vibrant, multicultural society, a high standard
of living and plenty to offer visitors of all ages and interests.
The Canadian
Property Market -
Canada currently has low interest rates, a high level of employment and
affordable property prices. You may well be able to buy property at one third to
one half of similar UK properties. Canada also has political and social
stability, and sterling is strong against the Canadian dollar. This has helped
to create a strong domestic property market. The number of expatriates who look
to buy property in Canada is increasing, and long term prospects are positive.
Canada will be hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, which means that property
prices in Vancouver and Whistler will rise as a result. As part of the Canadian
Olympic site, major roads around and between the towns are being improved, and a
staggering Canadian $2bn is being spent on a fast transit train line linking
Vancouver airport with key Olympic sites. This bodes well for rental prospects
for property investors in the area. UK ex-pats traditionally buy houses and
property lots, followed by condos and farms. Holiday homes in Canada are cheap
compared with similar properties in the UK. Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal are
the most expensive areas, and Charlottetown, Winnipeg and Edmonton less so.
How to Buy a Property for Sale in Canada -
The process of buying property in Canada is different from that in the UK.
Real estate laws differ from province to province, and it is therefore
important to get informed professional advice. Terminology is different too –
a bungalow is a style of house where all of the main rooms are on one level,
but it will have a full basement, extending the living area. Use of a basement
area is often a standard feature of Canadian houses. The responsibilities of
estate agents in Canada (called “realtors”) are very different from the UK.
The realtor advertising the property will have been engaged by the sellers to
promote and protect their interests, so won’t be as impartial as agents are
here in the UK. So it is important to engage your own realtor, called a
“buyer’s agent”. In the vast majority of real estate transactions the seller
pays both of the realtors involved in the negotiation process, so this will be
a nil cost to you. It's also part of your realtor's obligation to point out
less obvious deficiencies in the home and location and bring them to your
attention, so don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. The realtor’s
commission is paid as a result of finding you a property, and completing an
Offer to Purchase. It is the realtor’s duty to draft the Offer to Purchase on
your behalf, and to advise you of your options, to find out and inform you of
the true market value of the property to prevent you from paying too high a
price, and to advise on the amount of the deposit. The deposit (which is
placed in a trust fund) is considered 'good faith money' and is returned to
you if the purchase falls through.
Your formal Offer can be drafted subject to
conditions – for example subject to a home inspection, mortgage approval, a
final job offer etc. Sellers are not bound to accept conditional Offers to
Purchase, and it is customary to expect a lot of haggling on the agreed terms of
the Offer. Once the offer is agreed and signed it becomes a ‘firm’ offer, and
neither the seller or the buyer can back out – there is no such thing as
‘gazumping’ in Canada like there is in the UK. However if it is clear from
evidence that despite best efforts any conditions simply cannot be met, the
conditional sale collapses and the buyer gets their deposit back. The Offer will
contain a completion date which is binding. Once you are near completion, your
realtor has a duty to provide access to the home for home inspectors,
appraisers, bank officers and insurance companies. They must ensure that the
keys are ready for you on the possession date. They will then walk you through
your property on possession date to insure that the property is in essentially
the same condition as when you first made the offer to purchase. If you are
considering purchasing a holiday home in Canada, i.e. are unlikely to stay in
Canada for 6 months or less each year, then you are treated as a non-resident,
and you may open a bank account and buy property etc. If you plan to stay longer
each year i.e. by working or emigrating, then you must apply for immigrant
status.
Permanent Resident Cards must be carried at
all times, especially when leaving and returning to Canada. It is a requirement
that permanent residents must live in Canada for at least 2 years out of every
5, otherwise the residency may be at risk.
For those looking at full Canadian Citizenship
there is a 3 year wait (during which time you must be resident in the country)
before you can apply for this.
History and Cultures of Canada - The United States and Canada have
enjoyed a special relationship for centuries both in trade and war. Most
Canadians live in a narrow strip (160 km wide) north of the US border, making
them sensitive to the threat of US economic and cultural domination. But
Canada’s origins actually lie with France and the UK, and this is very evident
in everyday life. French is a second language in some parts, while Canada still
remains within the UK Commonwealth,
Population Demographics - The country is a
constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth as its head, and a federal state
with a democratic parliament. The Prime Minister, elected Cabinet Ministers, a
104-member Senate and a House of Commons make up the Federal Parliament. Members
of the House of Commons are directly elected every four years, while members of
the Senate are appointed by the Prime Minister. The ten provinces of Canada each
has a Lieutenant Governor and a local legislature, in power for up to 5 years.
There are also three territories (Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut)
constituted by Acts of Parliament. Several recent attempts to amend the
Constitution have been rejected by popular referendum. In 2006, 12 years of
Liberal rule was overturned by the Conservatives, although the party does not
have a majority.
Canada's constitution contains a Charter of
Rights and Freedoms, which sets out certain fundamental freedoms and rights that
neither Parliament nor any provincial legislature acting alone can change. These
include equality rights, mobility rights, and legal rights, together with
freedoms such as speech, association, and peaceful assembly. Like the UK and
Europe, smoking has been banned in most public areas. Most restaurants, theatres
and cinemas, if they permit smoking, have large ‘no smoking’ areas.
Canada is mainly a Christian country: the
majority (75%) of the population belong to the Christian faith: Anglican, Roman
Catholic and United Church of Canada. There are many other active denominations
and religions. Most western industrialised countries have centralised education
systems: in Canada this is not the case. There is no federal educational system.
Instead each of the provinces has the responsibility for its education
facilities. However, Canada ranks among the world's leaders in per capita
spending on public education. The ten provincial and three territorial systems
provide public schools, 'separate' (i.e. denominational) schools, and private
schools. Children are required by law to attend school from the age of six or
seven until they are 15 or 16. All non-private education through secondary (or
'high') school is publicly funded. The Canadian tax system is a little different
from other western countries, in that there is a 15% to 29% sliding scale for
federal taxes, as well as localised provincial taxes ranging from 4% to 17.95%.
Corporation tax is 19.5% for small businesses. Some provinces also levy capital
taxes on goods and other capital taxes. Canada has the highest marginal
effective tax rate on capital in the developed world, according to the OECD.
Canada’s healthcare (called Medicare) is
publicly funded similar to the NHS, but administered on a provincial or
territorial basis, subject to federal guidelines. Nearly all citizens qualify
for cover at point of need regardless of income, medical history or standard of
living. Such care comprises preventative care, medical treatments, access to
hospitals, dental surgeries etc. Non-residents are not entitled to free
treatment. Private health insurance plans are usually offered as part of
employee benefit packages in many companies
How to Get There - Canada has 25 airports, including main destinations
such as Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. Flight time from the UK is
between 7 and 8 hours and all major airlines fly to Canada. As the country is so
large, it spans several time zones – six in total, ranging from Newfoundland in
the east, which is three hours and 30 minutes behind UK time, to Pacific, which
is eight hours behind GMT. Other zones are the Atlantic, Eastern, Central and
the Rocky Mountains.
Tourism and Entertainment -
The spectacular scenery in Canada means that it is a great place for outdoor
pursuits, including hiking, skiing, mountain biking, riding, fishing, canoeing,
rafting, and golf. The country has more than 40 national parks, including
Banff National Park in the Rockies, the country\'s first national park, created
in 1885, and Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland. Both are UNESCO World
Heritage Sites. The most visited place in Canada is Niagara Falls.
Vancouver is set in the natural harbour of English Bay against a backdrop of
mountains, and has two lively centres of bars, restaurants, shops and galleries,
called Gastown and Chinatown. Quebec’s architectural ancestry is evident
in its ancient walls, narrow streets and stone buildings, and it is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. The walled Old Upper Town is connected to the Old Lower
Town by staircases and a funicular. Place Royale, the heart of the Lower Town,
is full of bars, restaurants and galleries, and the city’s Citadelle is a well
known national historic site.
