Hello all,

This is a nice forum and hope someone can help.

There is potential I'll be moving to Canada with my wife and 4 little kids (6,5,3, and 2 all US citizens) (semi-permanent move!). I currently work in the US (Arizona, making $65K with about $50K take home at the end of the year). However, my immigration situation did not improve after so many years so I decided to seek work in Canada. I'll be working as a University professor (Assistant professor). Not sure about the offer, but it will be around $70K in McGill Montreal, that is if I get the Job and I like it (This is all in the working now).

I've never been in Canada before, I speak/write English and French fluently and we're the family oriented sort (Cook at home and enjoy family gathering, not go out much at night, may be once in a while go to a restaurant, but we enjoy vacations and road trips, etc…). We believe we'll make friends easily, we've been immigrants for very long, so we will not have a terribly tough time adjusting!? . Weather could be an issue, since we're used to the nice AZ weather (granted the summers are quite bad). Our current average family expenses are around $2750-$3000/month and we're able to save around 10K (may be less now) a year. My retirement plan (401a) has about $60K in it, I've contributed to social security, FICA, Medicare, etc...etc… We're currently renting a 3BDs (small bedrooms) townhouse (nice to average neighborhood) for a very good deal ($800/month and the rest of our utilities Elec/Gas/Phone/Cell/Internet/Water, etc.. are around $400-$500/month), leaving about $1000/month for food and miscellaneous and the rest of that average expenses covers insurance, out of pocket health expenses and charity (we're very charitable people with upwards of $3K+/year for good causes and helping people back home).

We've tracked our expenses rather well over the years so we're sure our current average is really around $2750-$3000/month including all expenses.

So that is our current picture, and we need advice as to the following:
- How hard it is to find a family oriented neighborhood rental house/townhouse in Montreal and for how much. Where should we look, and most importantly what to be careful with (considering getting stuck with a one year lease)
- We would like a three bedroom place (2 BRM if we must to save money), average size, but must be really family oriented and absolutely no apartment, I cannot stand living in apartment and deal with people above, below, and on all sides.
- I’m used to public transport (I have always used the bus to go work now) and will continue to do so in Montreal
- My wife likes to drive the kids around, take them to school, etc… (she’s a stay home Mom, but she is degreed too, BS in education from over seas and she plans to look for a job at some point. May be few years from now, she is fluent in English/French too)
- What would our family budget look like in Canada
- What would my take home salary be like
- Is it wise to buy a house there, knowing that I have a very god credit history in the US but none in Canada.
- Can I move my retirement plan with me to Canada so I don’t have to leave it behind or cash and loose with high taxes
- Is my expected average salary ($70K) I listed fair for Montreal
- Can we hope to save any money and how can we improve our saving potentials.

We do not want to lower our life standards (not that they are terribly high now, but we’re doing fine and we’re happy, we can afford whatever reasonably we want, we do not drive brand new car, nor fret about new things, and gadgets, etc…), nor do we want to get any sort of social services that may lower our expenses (we’re morally against that, except for truly needy people), we simply want to live a middle class style and contribute to the host country as we did in the US for so long. Our long term plan is to be able to afford to put our four kids in college and set them on the proper course of a successful life (not necessarily materially) and eventually plan a retirement back home (It is expensive back home too).

Please advice and many thanks.

send me ur phone no I will call u. I am in montreal (west Island ) Near to montreal airport, English speaking town ,Indian and American food store. 20 Mins train to Montreal down town and Mc Gill I have a 3 bedroom Town house could rent or sell. send me ur details on neonzx3 at hotmail dot come