In the early 2000's I worked for US$1.6 billion multi-national with their head office in Richmond, Virginia. I was offered a VP role at corporate, but my Dad was sick, so I had to tell them that I was interested, but needed more time before making the move. We began to look at homes and finances etc. Working with Americans every day and visiting our plants there numerous times per year, I got to see what it is like to live there, not just visit like a tourist. If we would have moved, I think we would have had nice life down there, but some things are very different. Having good health insurance is very important. I recall speaking with one of our HR managers who need a heart operation. He didn't have enough money in his insurance fund (many are capped) to get the best treatment possible, so he had to opt for something less effective. Homes were much less expensive in Richmond, but we need to look at gated communities due to the high crime rates. My wife was warned not to travel alone after dark as she would be a huge target for crime. All of the high schools had metal detectors and police presence at games etc. You have to watch where you travel - a wrong turn into a neigbourhood that you shouldn't be in can very dangerous. My rental car was surrounded at a stop light one day, but I had the ***** to just drive through them and get away. A guy ahead of me at the rental car drop off was showing the attendant the bullet hole in his quarter panel. There was a sign at the employee entrance to our plant there stating that all weapons needed to be left in your vehicle - we had these signs in many of our US plants.

My take away and what I have told my son who wants to move to Texas too, is that you can have a very nice life in the US if you are wealthy and healthy.

 

Wow sounds like a rough area. There are definitely some pretty bad areas in the US in terms of crime but it's like you said, typically if you're able to spend the money on a better city/area you can get away from a good chunk of it. Not sure where you guys are located in Canada but here in the GTA in Ontario the nicer areas are being specifically targeted, especially the cars, and it's not a matter of spending money for a better neighbourhood here. They're breaking into houses just to get car keys or jewelry now. You simply can't get away from it, nor do you have the ability to protect yourselves here. This issue is only made even worse by the fact that 911 call wait times keep increasing each year in the Toronto area.

The healthcare aspect is one side I'm still learning about. My brother has a very good plan at the moment where he says he pays about 70 biweekly, subsidized by his employer, and there is a cap on how much he can spend within a year. So if it goes over, I believe he said 5000 for the year, the insurance company covers the rest and that included regular tests/check ups. According to him the wait times for tests and doctor visits are also much shorter where he is compared to where we live in Toronto. Regardless, its something I still have to do my homework about because healthcare is a priority for us. That being said, although the healthcare we have here is "free" the quality and access to it have gone so far down the drain and only getting worse. It makes me totally okay with spending a few thousand a year on healthcare in the US if I can have better access to it once we need it.

 

My plan is to invest into the economy if/when, we decide the time is right and use that to expedite any VISA/Citizenship requirements.
Summer & Fall weather is incredible in the GTA, so I would always return...

IDK, what's going to happen here.. I foresee a lot of turmoil in the next decade due to the failed immigration policy of this current govt. Violent crime will continue to escalate and will likely mirror our US counterparts.

 

Is that with the EB-5? Just looked it up....they've increased the amount of $$ investment required and are more specific on where you need to open shop.

 

But many think our health care system is so great in Canada. Sure, if you have a heart attack or stroke, you are carted in right away, but if you need hip surgery, you can wait years in pain as my girlfriend did for her second hip. But there is no money for that, but we have $8 billion of my tax dollars going to some clown in the Ukraine.

And as a coworker one said, "health care is free in Canada". Really, I guess that specialist making $600K a year is working for free. I wish Canadians would pull their heads out of the sand and start thinking and questioning things. Lets not even get going on government offices like the CRTC, Governor General, Ethics Commission, etc....

 

You've paid at least 8 billion in taxes? You've done very well!

 

I used to fly. Have you not seen American Made?

 

You took the risk of filing a tax return?

 

Of course! I am a good aka "brain-washed" Canadian.

That'll be the day.

 

An EB-5 presents an interesting choice. Establish tax residency in a very low or zero tax state and you can pay as little as 15 - 20% on certain dividend income up to circa 700k. Returning summer and fall to the GTA may not allow you to establish yourself as a non tax resident of Canada. You'll like need to do more to sever, plus you will be deemed to dispose of most of your assets at FMV.

You'll want to carefully consider your options before you become a US citizen as they are one of only a couple countries on the planet who tax based upon citizenship as opposed to residency or territory.

If you have significant assets, there are certainly more interesting choices when you decide to leave the yoke of the Canadian tax slave regime.

It's only a question of when the USA will suffer a sovereign debt crisis or default, not if. Lots of turmoil coming our way.

 

Discounts on new Corvettes starting in the US…

https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2023...tD0OhcFi9GRkJ0

 

Like people, governments are living on borrowed time. I've been saying that for well over a decade.

 

A crisis is coming, be patient:

https://www.propublica.org/article/w...may-be-looming

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/busi...rking-problem/

 

You've mentioned the C8 a few times on the this board? Are you looking down that path? I am considering a new or lightly used C8, if you have driven one I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Now back on topic......yes I think the market is finally starting to crater. I thought it would have happened this time last year however. If you have cash in hand I think late December would be a great time to grab a 991..1/2 and used 992. I also don't see it spiking hard in the spring as it normally does.

 

I've owned many Corvettes and have a friend that is on his 3rd C8. Great car...but it is a Corvette, so expect to see them everywhere you go. Also, the transmission failures are real. My friend has had one replaced already.

After the last price increase, it is no longer the value that it used to be to me, so that is why I got my deposits back (regular C8 and E-Ray). If I'm spending $120k, I'd rather have a used 911. When it was under $100k new, it was tough to beat. Become a member of the Canadian Corvette Forum and you will see when local dealers have units available. There has been a number of them in the last couple of weeks.

This message was just posted:

"just heard Finch Chev London has an immediate open allocation for a 2024 C8 NON Z51. Good news for anyone waiting at another dealer and doesn't need a Z51. I deal with Morgan Crosbie at Finch who is their Corvette specialist."