Comments on: Bubble Columbia

By: James

James — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:35:22 +0000

I find it odd that Canadians have chosen not to learn from the pain and suffering going on here in the United States. Canadians witnessed what can happen to a country when a bubble bursts… yet they continue to drive up real estate to ridiculous levels. OK, so they avoided the subprime meltdown. Well done. But that does not justify the kind of valuations in the Canadian real estate market right now. I suspect the majority of buyers are not even using money made within Canada. Because you simply could not afford these home prices based on an average Canadian income. That tells me it’s immigrants bringing in foreign money and investors speculating. Hardly the sign of a stable real estate market. You should learn from the mistakes of others Canadians. Much like the United States, your bubble is about to burst. I agree with this author… SELL!

By: Dan in Victoria

Dan in Victoria — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:52:45 +0000

Post #119 Hagbard,Thanks for the constuctive criticism.
Alas, I find the intricacies of a keyboard harder to grasp then the controls of a John Deere excavator.
What comes easy to some,doesn’t to others.
Now if you need something built or fabricated out in my shop,I can teach you that.
Or if you want to learn how to get around on the west coast ocean in the fog,I can teach you that.
It’s only been a little over a year since I learned how to type,be patient,I’m still learning this.

By: hagbard

hagbard — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:33:26 +0000

Yes Selkirk, who’d want to walk down the street, say hello to a passer by and get a snarl in return? I’ll take the happy people in small town Ontario over the grumps I left behind in Victoria.

By: hagbard

hagbard — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:19:28 +0000

Can someone give Dan in Victoria a keyboard with a spacebar, please!

By: viewwest

viewwest — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:57:18 +0000

#109
taxes and leasehold not the same thing. You need to do more homework before you jump in on this topic. Also, I wasn’t saying HK and Calgary comparable…just saying you can’t compare one price that is leasehold to one that isn’t.

By: Selkirk

Selkirk — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:58:47 +0000

I live in Victoria and I absolutely hate it. I mean, who wants to pick daffodils from their garden in February when I could be shoveling a path to my front door like a real Canadian? I can’t stand that Victoria gets only half the annual rainfall of Vancouver. And, seriously, I really wish I could cover my shoes and my car in road salt for several months of the year. Why would anyone want to live here?

By: Internal Exile

Internal Exile — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:43:07 +0000

105 Alf is dead on – no one adjusts for weather conditions here in BC – which is why Vancouver comes to a complete standstill whenever more than half an inch of snow falls. Rain or shine, day or night, everyone has the pedal to the metal.

That’s why being a driver or pedestrian in BC is so deadly: no one here can drive, but everyone has an ushakeable belief in their driving prowess, so they drive FASTER (“Hey, the Malahat, no prob!”). Like every other area of life in BC they’re completely (and dangerously) deluded.

By: Taxpayer like you

Taxpayer like you — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:51:10 +0000

108 rip-off. Good morning.

I had to re-read your post about living in Nanaimo. I got Calgary and Nanaimo mixed up. Seriously. And I have lived in both. Where did you live in Nanaimo?

What you’ve described applies to anyplace where you are
a starving student and working part-time just to
survive. You need a certain amount of time and money to
enjoy life. When in Calgary, and asked how I liked it, I would usually just shrug. People would say “but look at all the work”. I’d respond that I can work anywhere, but I want to live where I want to live. I had a job on the island set-up before I graduated.

As far as the activities go, I manage 2 quite easily, with a smattering of the others. I have friends who do up to 4.
Most often, people pick the one or two they really like and go crazy. And they are both “working-class” and
“business-owner”. And we can do winter activities too.
The tough thing is that for a few months a year, you
have to decide is it ski/fish/golf that day?

Similar again with culture. We have orchestras large and small, theatre groups etc. We may lack some visual arts,
but who needs it with the scenery?I found your reference
to VI as “white” hilarious. We have a large native population (maybe not so much in vic), indo-canadian, vietnamese. Again, Calgary surprised me at how anglo it was. And cowboys? For one week in July sure. Stop at the local feed store here you’ll see more cowboys then you will in 11 months in Calgary.

But the island is not for everybody. When interviewing job applicants, I explain “We’re not Toronto, Calgary or
Van”. If you’re looking for top $$, you won’t find it here.
You have to decide you want to live here first. So, if you want to move or retire here, rent first.

By: Dan in Victoria

Dan in Victoria — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:48:13 +0000

Post#103 Taxpayer Like You,Yeah CRO has some good points that are 100% correct,but I guess I’ve lived here to long to really notice anymore.If I go out downtown I usally run into one or two people that I know,so to me everyone seems friendly.
Drives my wife batty at times,good example we were going through the drive through at the local Timmies out post, got to the order box “Hi Dan, regular?”
“Yes Thanks, one for the boss also”
She just curses” Is there any one you don’t know?”
As more and more people have moved here I have noticed that the overall mood is changing,but its still “home” to me.
But I did have my passport with me to get in to the “Union Club”for Garths talk.
Just in case, what.

By: alf

alf — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:29:06 +0000

#109 nonplused

I have nothing against Calgary, after growing up in Ontario and then living in Vancouver for 5 years I’m
just not a big city guy any more.
Not to mention, I haven’t heard of too many 200 lb halibut, or 50lb springs coming out of Calgary.
Sure miss the pike and walleye back East though.

#108 Calgary rip off

You forgot to mention the drunk drivers and the little blacktail deer all over the place. I see your point.
Incidentally, I am 100% drug and alcohol free, have been for many years. I tend to do stupid things like missing major buying opportunities when I abuse substances.