Canada/US split retirement home questions

C

CatyMae n Steve

New member
Steve and I are looking at where to retire when the time comes, and we both love the Brookings, OR or Crescent City, CA area (he's an original surfer dude, so the dryer weather there REALLY appeals to him - and I'd be like a dog pounding its leg while it got belly-scratched with that caliber of fishing available). We'd also like to consider spending several months of the year in Canada. Would like to know the positives/negatives -- like 1) his pension will be US dollars...no problem there? 2) he likes to target shoot both handguns (he was state silhouette champ a few years back) and rifles -- will that be available?

We also have to find out about medical coverage (we'll have coverage available, but don't know the limits as far as moving out of Oregon, since the coverage is ODS -- Oregon based).

Will we have to spend all our retirement money to be able to afford to live somewhat close to the coast in British Columbia?

We'd really appreciate any info/feedback offered. (I'm wiping the drool from my chin thinking about the fishing available in BC!) :mrgreen:

Thanks,
Caty
 
Click HERE to go to the Canada Firearms Centre. The information you need about owning handguns and competition shooting is there.

Can't help you with the other questions, but I know someone else will.
 
Caty,

We have spent a lot of summers cruising in BC and wishing we could stay.

Canada allows US citizens to stay up to 180 days on a tourist visa, so immigrating to enjoy the summer half of the year is not necessary.

Medical care in BC is reasonably priced even if you are not on the medical plan. If you split the year between say Oregon and BC, try to get all doctoring done while you are in Oregon.

Housing prices have risen in BC just like Oregon and Washington! Anything within commuting distance of the larger towns is more expensive.

I would suggest a boat trip to BC to scout out possible areas where you would like to live. Real estate agents can show you around so you don't need a car to check out waterfront or near waterfront areas.
 
Caty,

Prices for homes here in BC have skyrocketed in the last few years. Average detached bungalow style home in Vancouver is about $450,000 Canadian. If you were to look as some of the smaller communities on Vancouver Island or on some of the smaller Islands or parts of the mainland that are accessible by ferry you could find a nice home probably starting at about $200 K.

As far as the shooting. Its pretty restricted. You need to register (currently at least) long guns as well as handguns. Handgun registration is very tight and difficult to do. (unless you are a crook, in which case you just buy one on the street and don't worry about the rules)

If you are interested just check out some of MLS listings for BC, that will give you a good idea of real estate cost.

Ron
 
We discovered Vancouver Island several years ago and bought a place on Yellow Point 4 years ago. I can highly recommend the Island. From our place, which seems to be like it's in the boonies, we can be in downtown Nanaimo (77,000 people) in 15 minutes to get to all the malls, Home Depots, etc. Once you get on the island, it's like being on the mainland. Everything you need is there.
Fortunately the prices were still pretty low then and the exchange rate was about $.64 to the dollar. As we made the purchase, we understood we could only spend 6 months a year there, but our plan was to move to Washington when I retired for a full time residence. I retired on 3/31 and we now live in Anacortes, WA.
The quickest way for us to get to the BC home is by boat (our own). When our C-Ranger tug gets delivered later this summer, we want to spend more time further up the coast. If we like the cruising lifestyle, we may end up selling the BC place.
As far as the handguns go, I've resigned myself to keeping them in WA. Although they may exist, I've never noticed a shooting range in my travels there.

Art
 
Catymae: I have been wondering the same thing. I went to a couple immigration sites on the internet and took some tests but was always a few points short of being able to immigrate as a worker. But I just haven't hit the right site for retired immigrants. There are some really nice areas on the east coast of the island that could be a possibility, like nanaimo or campbell river. I had an aunt and uncle years ago that did the 180 day thing every year for years. They lived in an airstream and alternated between mazatlan and BC. We might have to do the same thing, and that would be alright, but not perfect, especially as you get older. I can say one thing about BC. The health care is good, at least as far as run of the mill things go. I wouldn't want to have anything real serious occur up there though, as the system is badly overloaded. I had a family member cruising with me years ago and they took a bad fall on Quadra island and it took two ferries and three ambulances to get her to Comox. But once there, the surgery and care were topnotch. But four bed wards had six people in them, with other less serious cases in beds in the halls. Americans had to pay by credit card or cash. I always carried a new, unused credit card for just such an emergency and it worked out well. All that transportation, four days in the hospital, and orthopedic surgery, and the bill was under $6000. That was about 1992 dollars but still very reasonable. I had a prescription for Tylenol 3 to fill and had to wait in a long line to get it but 50 tablets were only $5.00. I will be watching this thread closely, as we have been giving this a lot of thought.
 
lloyds Wrote: All that transportation, four days in the hospital, and orthopedic surgery, and the bill was under $6000. That was about 1992 dollars but still very reasonable. I had a prescription for Tylenol 3 to fill and had to wait in a long line to get it but 50 tablets were only $5.00.

Interesting contrast: My recent episode of appendicitis and atrial fibrulation (about similar trama and 5 hospital days) = $157,431 + doctor's fees = Approx. $200,000 or $40,000/day or $1,666/hour. Pills were $14-$21 each!

Welcome to California 2006!

Still a-bitchin' on Shasta Lake!

Joe.
 
lloyds-

Will do!

Can also testify that it was no fun, at least not worth $1666 per hour!

Next time I'm paying that, will hope to be it a situation that someone can make me that happy!

(Just joking, I think!)

Joe.
 
Caty,
We have spent 20 years vacationing on and around Vancouver Island. To us, there is no better place in the world between May and October. I'm not too sure that I want to spend winters there, but I could be convinced.

We loved the Broughton Islands between the NE coast of Vancouver Island and the mainland when we visited last September. I found a piece of property that is 15 acres of waterfront at the NW end of Gilford Island. Close to Echo Bay Resort. It has 3 dwellings that could hold up to 12 people and a dock . A water supply, power, cell and satellite access. It might be too remote a place to retire (about 1 1/2 hours by boat from Port McNeil), and we're about 9 years away from retirement.

It's listed for $260,000 Canadian, which means it might be negotiated to close to $200,000 US. It would make a great C-Brat clubhouse for the warmer months. Maybe a group of us could go together and buy it. Kind of like a C-Brat yacht club outstation. Sounds a little crazy, but it's one of the finest cruising and salmon fishing areas in the world, and I like to dream. Why can't C-Dory fanatics have their own timeshare/clubhouse? Look it up at www.bcoceanfront.com/simoon_sound/simoonsnd_fs.htm
Lyle
 
No dream there, Lyle. I think this could be a great deal for the right group of people. Boats are now owned by shares. Condos have been that way for years. No reason a property couldn't be owned that way. Canadaian property should be able to be owned by a LLC or whatever the equivalent in Ca.
When the rest of us come up to visit we would be glad to pony up to help out.
 
Lyle,
I remember you telling me about that property. It is pretty Ideal for a group of like minded folks for sure! I am pretty convinced ! Especially if you look at the picture on the linked site that shows the dock of the place. plenty of room for gatherings etc, plus if you look close, there already is a C-Brat docked there. Now we would have to figure out how to structure the deal.....
Jim
 
Oh my. If I were a couple of decades younger I'd be on that in a New York minute. Perfect for an exclusive retreat, with the addition of a helo pad and some finishing. I wonder if that tug(?) can be included.

Don
 
Somewhere between 5 and 10 members would certainly make it affordable. Although it looks a bit rundown in some views, it would be a nice place to hang out. If we can get the ball rolling I and Sue would be interested. If that is the direction someone wants to go. Otherwise, we will continue to dream.
 
Lyle and everyone,

Echo Bay is a great location, but its 30 miles form Port McNeil, the nearest 'real' town, by water. At 3mpg thats 20 gallons of gas or $120+ per trip. No big deal in summer, but it takes a 40 ft boat to go to town in the winter! Keeping a car or truck in town means paying for parking. Campbell River is the nearest medium size city, and that is a couple of hours down a two lane highway. (With snow and ice in the winter.)

Like shopping, the medical clinic is also at Port McNeil, as is the coast guard (one 20ft inflatable with 3 crew) and the RCMP.

I considered keeping a float house in Echo Bay but the locals told me that the two or three weeks of maintainance each spring takes all the fun out of it!! Canada doesn't allow US citizens to bring any building materials or tools into the country so you would have to buy stuff there at higher small town prices.

That dock would require a 'foreshore lease' from the Government and I understand that that kind of lease is only granted for commercial use. The dock is also exposed to Northerly winds.

By the way, the reference to 'Simoom Sound' is misleading. This property is actually just outside of Echo Bay. Simoom Sound is about 10 miles away, but the post office moved from Simoom Sound to Echo Bay and they kept the name.

Echo Bay Resort, Windsong Sea Village, and Pierre's Bay are close by. And the crabbing is in Shoal Harbor just around the corner!

Living on an island is never easy, but the rewards of the Broughtons might make up for it!

The C-Dory in the picture is/was owned by Alexandra Morton, a marine biologist and whale researcher. Her book, 'Listening to Whales', is very informative, and she lives or lived very near to this property.

Anyone who is really interested in this property should go there and look up Billy Proctor, who has lived there his whole life. His place is in the inner bay to the left of the property in the aerial photo. He has a small museum and a marine ways, and knows everyone, and can give real advise about that area and what it takes to live there. Echo Bay and surrounds is a very 'small town' and the locals depend on each other. I would want Billy's approval prior to buying.

We would visit for sure if anyone gets this place!!
 
Another option,

For anyone who wants a remote house, consider a float house!

You own the house and pay moorage to keep it on a dock. Windsong Sea Village has a float house dock, as does Shawl Bay Resort, and probably others in the Broughtons. Greenway Sound's owner was building floats and houses in Port McNeil.

A float house has no land to maintain, and you can dock your boat in front of your door. Since it floats, the house can be moved to a new location if things change.
 
Geeeez Larry, you sure know how to kill a thread. :disgust But seriously thanks for providing the reality of life in a different part of the world from where I am used to living.
:embarrased
 
Larry-

Sounds like option one (buying the place) is out for practical reasons for most folks, and...

Option two (floating house) is better, but why not go with (maybe)....

Option three: get a bigger boat and just use it for a portable home as you travel with the seasons and have a reasonable sized tender to explore and fish from.

Is #3 in the same range financially, or does the additional cost make it available to only those who can lay out the extra $$$?

Joe.
 
This is an interesting topic, with some great feedback. I should make a disclaimer here. I'm not pursuing buying this property myself. I haven't toured it, although I think I saw it from the water last September. When I want to discuss something with Shelley that I haven't thought completely through, I tell her I'm just "thinking out loud". That's what I was doing on this thread.

Jim, this is a different property than the one I talked to you about. That one was 10 minutes by boat from Telegraph Cove and was a completely finished 5 year old, 5 bedroom house on Pearse Island for around the same price as this. That one sold quickly.

Lloyds, I agree that it looks pretty run down. About par for most of the private places up there. Most of the folks in this area are just hanging on, now that the resource industries of logging and fishing have dried up. However, it is $260,000 Canadian for 15 acres of waterfront! Isn't that about what it would cost to build a garage in Southern California? I think that you could easily invest another $200,000 over 4-5 years to finish it up. Plus a lot of sweat equity from the owners.

Larry, I defer to your knowledge of the area. I did read Billy Proctors book and I agree that he would know everything about it, including where the original turn of the century inhabitants are buried. I do think that this might be doable with a group of people, where it would be too much to take on for one person. It would allow you to spend time in the area at a small investment. I also think that in a longer time window (10 years+) these properties are going to be a good investment. Around 15 years ago, the Gulf Islands were a bargain. Six years ago, Nanaimo was a bargain. Both are now much more expensive. I think that the inflation in waterfront property will just continue to move north.

Joe, I think that a bigger boat might be a better option. But if it's new, it's going to cost just as much, and if it's old it will need just as much maintenance. If cost of fuel is an issue, think about the cost of taking a 36-40' up and down the coast. Land is an investment because it will appreciate in value, a boat is an expense because it's going to depreciate.

I think we might be able to keep the dock by incorporating as the "C-Brat Yacht Club". Just think of the reverse snobbery possibilities. No one with a boat longer than 27' could tie up there (just kidding).
Lyle
 
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