The Canadian Snowbird Guide

Each year, more than a million Canadians, affectionately dubbed "Snowbirds," migrate to southern climes to enjoy warm weather and sandy beaches. The strong Canadian dollar is making the trip more affordable and attractive than ever. But post-9/11, Canadians face tighter security, higher health costs, and higher fuel costs when traveling to the US. Canadians must budget accordingly. Especially for first-timers, how can they properly plan their trip to ensure a worry-free time away from home? Among the topics this book includes are: the Snowbird lifestyle; financial planning; what documents you need to enter the US; what types of insurance and coverage are recommended; ensuring you have an up-to-date will; how US tax law applies to Canadians if money is earned or property sold; snowbirding in Mexico and Costa Rica; plus FAQs, checklists, and sources of further information.

A comprehensive overview on financial management, tax filing, real estate investment, cross-border retirement planning, and foreign exchange issues for Canadians adopting a temporary U.S. lifestyle.

The ultimate resource for Canadian residential landlords. Anyone can become a landlord, but not everyone will be a profitable landlord. Distilling over 35 years of his first-hand experience, Doug Gray, one of Canada’s most respected real estate authors and experts, guides readers on how to become a successful landlord. Following the effective and proven formula of his previous bestsellers, The Canadian Landlord Guide fills the void of information on Canadian landlording. Some of the covered topics include: Principles and formulas for profitable landlording Understanding how the real estate market works The pitfalls of real estate investing and how to avoid them Types of rental formats Where to get information on prospective properties How to finance real estate investments The legal aspects of buying and renting property Tenant selection Property maintenance Filled with easy-to-understand and credible advice, The Canadian Landlord Guide is a must-have resource for all Canadian landlords. Seasoned professionals and aspiring beginners alike will find Doug Gray’s landlording guide to be one of their key tools in their quest for real estate success. Doug Gray, B.A., LL.B. (Vancouver, BC) has been buying, renovating, and renting real estate for 35 years. In addition to being a successful real estate entrepreneur, Doug has written over 28 bestselling real estate, business, and personal finance titles, including Making Money in Real Estate (978-0-470-83620-0) and The Canadian Snowbird Guide (978-0-470-15375-8).

Prime vacation property throughout Canada has doubled in value within the past five years. For the potential buyer of a vacation property, the cost of entry can be stiff. There is a high demand for many to own a vacation home or idyllic retreat for pleasure and lifestyle enjoyment, future retirement, rental revenue, or investment profit. But buying a recreational property can be a potential minefield for many reasons, as there can be complex tax, legal, estate planning, and investment issues to consider. When investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a recreational property you will need to do your due diligence and seek solid advice. The Complete Guide to Buying and Owning Recreational Property in Canada, written by Canada's leading authority on matters related to real estate, offers valuable insights and tips, and will prove a trustworthy resource for many years to come. Topic areas include: Buying the right property, for the right reasons, in the right location How to set a purchase and financing strategy and how to negotiate your best deal How to exercise caution when buying with family or friends-and how to keep peace in the family when sharing use or ownership Getting the help of professionals, such as a tax accountant, lawyer, home inspector, mortgage broker, insurance broker, and realtor. Obtaining tax and estate planning strategic advice to save tax on transfer, sale or bequeathing of the property, or inheriting a property What you need to know if you are buying recreational property as an investment. Money saving tips when renting your property yourself or using professional rental management Special cautions if buying a vacation home or cottage outside of Canada Creative ways of using your vacation home or cottage for exchange or barter Key strategies to follow and classic pitfalls to avoid And much, much more! Plus Sources of Further Information, Key Websites, Checklists, Glossary, and Index.

For ten years Marsha, Paul, and Simba cruised the snowbird circuit from Los Angeles to Key West, in three different motorhomes, towing a Saturn, with numerous campground membershipstwo years as full-timers, when their family considered them homeless. In addition to the U.S. snowbird hotspots, they RVed in Mexico, Alaska, and New Zealand, and lived in Canadas winter tropicsParksville, B.C. This book is a compilation of fifteen years experiencing, observing, reading, and Googling. It discusses the ideal snowbird "rig", preparations, destinations, routes, parks, clubs, campground memberships, lifestyles, and challenges. It is the quintessential budget guide for the Great Escape to Where the Sun Spends the Winter.