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Why is Toronto so less affordable than Dallas-Fort Worth?

I actually think that is a really good comparison, except in crime. They both have similar industries, similar geographic location, ****ty rail based public transit, etc.
Yes, agreed.

The only real outlier is crime, and specifically gun-crime!

Well that, and the lack of unions and the general lower wage structures that entails (though Chicago is quickly losing its unions).

There's even enough similarities in architecture of sorts, and with lower wages through no unions it is why movies generically set in Chicago are sometimes shot in Toronto!
 
Well I went to one of the worst schools in the province, it is still much better than what I hear about the US.
But keep in mind I'm speaking in general terms though. The public schools in America's more affluent jurisdictions can be very, very, good!

Families here very often locate by school districts, and pay much higher housing costs to be in these jurisdictions (but they also are usually rewarded with a higher general quality of life as well).
 
Yes, agreed.

The only real outlier is crime, and specifically gun-crime!

Well that, and the lack of unions and the general lower wage structures that entails (though Chicago is quickly losing its unions).

There's even enough similarities in architecture of sorts, and with lower wages through no unions it is why movies generically set in Chicago are sometimes shot in Toronto!

We have the same problems with unions as you do. But that is true a lot of movies shoot in Toronto and here in Montreal, in fact a lot of them right next door to me at the cathedral. We have special holders on all the street signs so that the French signs can be replaced with English ones. It is also not uncommon to see Chicago PD or NYPD cars parked outside.
 
But keep in mind I'm speaking in general terms though. The public schools in America's more affluent jurisdictions can be very, very, good!

Families here very often locate by school districts, and pay much higher housing costs to be in these jurisdictions (but they also are usually rewarded with a higher general quality of life as well).

Our schools are primarily funded through the province and those in urban areas are typically the best, here our rural schools are the worst.
 
well buying, because part of Carjosses complaint (repeated by Many Canadians and covered by Maclean's recently is that foreign investors are buying and leaving houses empty or using them sporadically. not nessecarily living there.

Actually, here in Toronto, Asians are buying multiple properties and renting them out. There is a distinct shortage of rental properties here in Toronto, largely because of the dampening effects of the Landlord and Tenant Act that is in place Provincially that can limit a landlord in significant ways and has created many barriers to removing bad tenants. We had one situation recently - admittedly, not the norm - where a tenant in social housing, which is the provision of living space to the poorest of the poor, who had refused to pay his rent for well over a decade, some $65,000 plus in arrears, because he felt his unit and his building weren't properly maintained. The City of Toronto's public housing corporation finally got him evicted from that unit but only by moving him to another public housing unit and even then he didn't want to go but the courts forced him to go.

The Act placed significant limits on the amount of rent increases that could be applied, set Provincially and related to inflation, and required landlords to petition the agency in charge to allow increases over that amount based on proven cost increases. Only recently has the Act been amended to grandfather a lot of older housing stock and allow newer housing stock to set higher market based rates and market based year over year increases. As a result, here in Toronto, the condo market is booming and most of the units in new buildings are owned by non-resident landlords who lease them out as an investment.

And just, anecdotally, I have a neighbor who is a real estate agent in my area and she recently had an Asian client who flew in for a week to buy houses. They bought seven houses during the week and on the last day they bought a house as their last investment and paid $150,000 above the asking price and their's was the only offer on the house. Asians investors have money to burn and even at the going prices our real estate is cheap to them. Try buying a condo in Hong Kong or Singapore, in comparison.
 
We have the same problems with unions as you do. But that is true a lot of movies shoot in Toronto and here in Montreal, in fact a lot of them right next door to me at the cathedral. We have special holders on all the street signs so that the French signs can be replaced with English ones. It is also not uncommon to see Chicago PD or NYPD cars parked outside.
I wasn't aware Toronto had unions, because avoiding Chicago's unions is the rationale for shooting movies in Toronto.

BTW - if you're speaking of that very old, large, ornate, Catholic Cathedral several blocks from the lake, I've been to mass there! :mrgreen:

NM, you were speaking of Montreal ... my bad ...
 
I wasn't aware Toronto had unions, because avoiding Chicago's unions is the rationale for shooting movies in Toronto.

BTW - if you're speaking of that very old, large, ornate, Catholic Cathedral several blocks from the lake, I've been to mass there! :mrgreen:

No, this is an Anglican one right downtown, much smaller.
 
lol it's not "less prosperous," it's just more desirable to live in. DFW is in no way a world class city
 
Because Texas is a dump? Why on earth would anyone want to live there? Toronto is one of the best places on the planet to raise a family.. where as Texas aint.

Idiotic statement. Have you spent any time in Texas? Toronto has plenty of it's own nice areas, and their fair share of dumpy areas, and I know this from experience.
 
Actually, here in Toronto, Asians are buying multiple properties and renting them out. There is a distinct shortage of rental properties here in Toronto, largely because of the dampening effects of the Landlord and Tenant Act that is in place Provincially that can limit a landlord in significant ways and has created many barriers to removing bad tenants. We had one situation recently - admittedly, not the norm - where a tenant in social housing, which is the provision of living space to the poorest of the poor, who had refused to pay his rent for well over a decade, some $65,000 plus in arrears, because he felt his unit and his building weren't properly maintained. The City of Toronto's public housing corporation finally got him evicted from that unit but only by moving him to another public housing unit and even then he didn't want to go but the courts forced him to go.

The Act placed significant limits on the amount of rent increases that could be applied, set Provincially and related to inflation, and required landlords to petition the agency in charge to allow increases over that amount based on proven cost increases. Only recently has the Act been amended to grandfather a lot of older housing stock and allow newer housing stock to set higher market based rates and market based year over year increases. As a result, here in Toronto, the condo market is booming and most of the units in new buildings are owned by non-resident landlords who lease them out as an investment.

And just, anecdotally, I have a neighbor who is a real estate agent in my area and she recently had an Asian client who flew in for a week to buy houses. They bought seven houses during the week and on the last day they bought a house as their last investment and paid $150,000 above the asking price and their's was the only offer on the house. Asians investors have money to burn and even at the going prices our real estate is cheap to them. Try buying a condo in Hong Kong or Singapore, in comparison.
They're also buying-up the vineyards in Bordeaux, France!

I just spoke Friday with a Chinese immigrant couple here in the states (20+ years), who are seriously considering moving back to Hong Kong for better economic opportunity!

The Chinese are awash in U.S. dollars due to their manufacturing economy, and they're building an amazing middle-class with rising wages!

If I was a young person today looking for opportunity, I'd take a very hard look at China!
 
They're also buying-up the vineyards in Bordeaux, France!

I just spoke Friday with a Chinese immigrant couple here in the states (20+ years), who are seriously considering moving back to Hong Kong for better economic opportunity!

The Chinese are awash in U.S. dollars due to their manufacturing economy, and they're building an amazing middle-class with rising wages!

If I was a young person today looking for opportunity, I'd take a very hard look at China!

And their complete lack of human rights and freedoms, still sub-standard quality of life, a near impossible to learn language, no hope of immigration, etc.
 
And their complete lack of human rights and freedoms and still sub-standard quality of life.
I'm speaking in terms of economic opportunities, not necessarily gaining citizenship.

I would definitely consider doing business in China, if I was able to avail myself of the opportunity.

I believe in the old motto: "Business is where you find it"
 
They're also buying-up the vineyards in Bordeaux, France!

I just spoke Friday with a Chinese immigrant couple here in the states (20+ years), who are seriously considering moving back to Hong Kong for better economic opportunity!

The Chinese are awash in U.S. dollars due to their manufacturing economy, and they're building an amazing middle-class with rising wages!

If I was a young person today looking for opportunity, I'd take a very hard look at China!

Similar to young people a couple of decades ago who flooded Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc. earning large salaries with no expenses or taxes and then bringing that wealth back to Canada in a few years. I wouldn't want to spend any great length of time in either location, but if you don't have roots too deep and you're adventurous, it's a good way to get yourself a good start in life and career. Lots of teachers, nurses, IT specialists, etc., did very well that way.
 
I'm speaking in terms of economic opportunities, not necessarily gaining citizenship.

I would definitely consider doing business in China, if I was able to avail myself of the opportunity.

I believe in the old motto: "Business is where you find it"

Their economy is crumbling right now under the shear weight of the corruption and pollution. It is a really place to do business in the long-term. I personally enjoy being able to step outside and not get lung cancer.
 
Similar to young people a couple of decades ago who flooded Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc. earning large salaries with no expenses or taxes and then bringing that wealth back to Canada in a few years. I wouldn't want to spend any great length of time in either location, but if you don't have roots too deep and you're adventurous, it's a good way to get yourself a good start in life and career. Lots of teachers, nurses, IT specialists, etc., did very well that way.
Exactly, and I came very close to doing this myself as a young engineer, but the oil company that was entertaining me had a policy of only allowing those with a minimum of 5 years experience for Saudi assignments. :(

A buddy of mine did this in the 80's and made a killing; bought an apartment building when he came back after two years.

But business is where you find it, and tell me: "What twenty-something isn't adventurous"?

(and if they're not, they should be)
 
Exactly, and I came very close to doing this myself as a young engineer, but the oil company that was entertaining me had a policy of only allowing those with a minimum of 5 years experience for Saudi assignments. :(

But business is where you find it, and tell me: "What twenty-something isn't adventurous"?

(if they're not, they should be)

I am adventurous but I am not that adventurous, I have no interest in working where I can be murdered anytime by the government. I value my life, my friends and family, and my rights too much for that. Also I would rather live somewhere I could actually enjoy living.
 
With today's exchange rate he would probably slap you in the face.

other then the fact that normal tips are like 5-10 US and I gave him 25 CDN plus some assorted loonies and a toonie because it was monopoly money to me at that point as I wasn't going to Canada after that.
 
Because Texas is a dump? Why on earth would anyone want to live there? Toronto is one of the best places on the planet to raise a family.. where as Texas aint.

I certainly have some problems with Texas politics and their Board of Education, but it is far from a "dump". It has excellent infrastructure and a strong economy.
 
Well Texas does have one city that usually ranks very high within the US, Austin.

I'm considering moving there when the time is right. D/FW has one big minus: A corporate cost cutting mentality. Many companies consider a career IT person interchangeable with an offshore resource they never met. It seems that Austin has less of that mentality.
 
I certainly have some problems with Texas politics and their Board of Education, but it is far from a "dump". It has excellent infrastructure and a strong economy.

Politics don't happen in a vacuum. Back when I lived in New England it struck me how practical it was to have conservative New Hampshire right next to leftist Massachusetts. People move across that border to suit their circumstances.
 
I'm considering moving there when the time is right. D/FW has one big minus: A corporate cost cutting mentality. Many companies consider a career IT person interchangeable with an offshore resource they never met. It seems that Austin has less of that mentality.

Well it is a tech hub, that is probably why.
 
well buying, because part of Carjosses complaint (repeated by Many Canadians and covered by Maclean's recently is that foreign investors are buying and leaving houses empty or using them sporadically. not nessecarily living there.

That's become a concern in Vancouver, too. Another downside is that older people in Vancouver, retired on pensions, have seen the value of their houses and consequently the property taxes rise to the point that they can hardly afford to stay in the house where they raised their families.
But the point is, that's not happening in places where it wouldn't be profitable. It only happens in the really desirable markets.
I wouldn't be surprised to see something similar happen in the Seattle-Portland corridor.
 
I'm considering moving there when the time is right. D/FW has one big minus: A corporate cost cutting mentality. Many companies consider a career IT person interchangeable with an offshore resource they never met. It seems that Austin has less of that mentality.

The downside though is austin has a much higher cost of living than dallas,The upside is austin is much nicer. Austin is nicer mostly because it is more upscale, dallas has many problems with crime, especially among minority roups and gangs. When I see a major crime listed on the news, it is usually dallas/ft worth, houston, waco, and killeen.
 
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