Living in Canada
Blame all those hundreds of Dutch people who emigrate to Canada every year! Who wouldn’t want to live in the second largest country? Canada is known for its seas and beautiful untouched nature. Moreover, you are immediately admitted as an ‘expat’, the Candese who emigrated from origin are very friendly and outgoing . House prices in Canada have increased a bit recently, purely because it is becoming more and more popular to live in Canada. A ‘luck in an accident’ is precisely that renting a house in Canada has become cheaper. Read all about living in Canada!
Culture in Canada
Canada is comparable to America : both countries are immigration countries and therefore have a mix of all kinds of cultures. English and French influence does predominate in Canada. In addition, there is also influence of the Indian and Inuit population. The special thing about Canada is that it is one of the few bilingual countries: both French and English are spoken. English does predominate there: for 63 percent of the Canadian population, English is the mother tongue and for the remaining 37 percent it is USA people.
Because Canada is so multicultural, there is also a lot of room for creativity. This is reflected in the large number of artists, writers and musiciansthat come from here. Canadians aren’t just creative, they’re super friendly! Canadian and Dutch culture is quite similar. Both countries have a culture where the individual is central. Canadian culture, like Dutch culture, is also characterized equality. Everyone gets equal opportunities, which is also reflected in the health care system. A big difference between American and Dutch culture is the difference in ‘masculinity’. You will notice this if you live or work in Canada for longer. In Canada there is still a somewhat more traditional society, where the man works and the woman takes care of the family. Of course this has been changing more and more recently.
Canada has 35,099,836 inhabitants, which is very little when you consider that the country is the second largest country in the world with its 9,984,670 km² area. That automatically means that Canada has natural treasures. There is hardly any country where nature is as pristine as in Canada. You will find extensive forests, rivers, high mountain peaks, endless rolling hills and beautiful beaches on the coast. Canada has a climate of extremes: in the summer it can get quite warm inland, but in winter it is even sometimes measured -40 degrees Celsius. The coastal areas generally have the mildest temperatures, which is why these areas are the most densely populated.
Unlike their neighboring country America, Canada really does have a traditional cuisine. As a vegetarian, you probably won’t like Canadian cuisine that much. Characteristic of this kitchen is the abundance of meat. Canadian cuisine, for example, has many dishes such as meat pies, salmon pies, stews and meatballs in sauce. Furthermore, the maple syrup will not sound unfamiliar to you. This one comes from Canada, from the Canadian Maple.
Houses in Canada
Canadian houses are very similar to American houses. A large proportion of Canadian houses are built of wood and almost all have a veranda. The houses are generally all a bit bigger than in the Netherlands. Simply because there is more room for it in Canada. An average house in Canada costs about $160,302. House prices in Canada are of course the most expensive in cities.
Buying a house in Canada is almost a piece of cake. The process is simple and straightforward, but keep in mind that you have to put everything on paper. The best way to find a home in Canada, whether you want to buy or rent it, is through the Internet. Once you have found your dream home, you submit a written offer. It is important to ensure that you have all personal documents with you. Think of recent bank statements and tax returns. Especially as a non-Canadian this is really a requirement. Another important point, as a non-Canadian buyer, is that you must include a 10 percent deposit of the suggested price with your offer.
It is also customary to negotiate the price in Canada. Once you have agreed, this will be officially established in the Offer of Purchase and Sale . This document is then signed both parties and forwarded to the lawyer. The lawyer further finalizes the purchase. Keep in mind that you have to pay a transfer tax when you buy the house. This tax varies between 0.5 and 2 percent of the value of the home.
House prices for owner-occupied homes in Canada are generally quite expensive, although they are still below house prices in Australia. In addition, interest rates are historically low these days. This automatically ensures that many tenants switch to an owner-occupied home. You can also choose to rent a house. The supply of rental properties is now very large in Canada. Landlords try to make the rental of their homes more attractive offering all kinds of extras. Think of a landlord who offers a free parking space or a landlord who supplies furniture.