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Not really on topic, but he can be either flown or driven.

Thanks all! Some good info! Interesting how many of us canucks go down there and how little forum like discussion there is (on this board or others). Was hoping to hear from some on their experiences. Will need more research.

For starters, here is a list of expense I foresee with owning a home in AZ. Property Taxes, HOA fees, Alarm system, Internet\TV, Home Insurance, Electricity\Water\Sewer\Gas, Trash, Termite spray. Am I missing anything? I have some 'ball park figures' based on some ready but would in...

All, I'm looking at buying a small house/Condo/Townhouse/PatioHome in Arizona. One of the main reason to buy is our dog (Retriever size). It seems that when you have more than a lap dog, the rental market shrinks to nothing (even if you dog is extremely well behaved). We are Canadians and my...

Thanks for the replies... It's not a McMansion, but a well built house in a good area. I don't think we want to sell and although its a bit more sq/ft than we need, not that much. If we do winter for 3 to 6 months a year, we will certainly question why we have such a place empty for a good...

Video was OK...my take...blah, blah, blah...4% rule is still good but needs to be fine tuned to the individual based on wants and needs. What I didn't like of the video was the background music...it often sounded like my default iPhone ringtone :)

So we (DW & I) own our home outright and its worth about $750k (about 25% of our NW). My perceived problem is that historically, houses in the area do not appreciate much, if at all. We live in this house and area for other reasons and won't likely move anytime soon. But we do plan on...

I like them all (SoCal, Az, FL) for different reasons, however I haven't spent months there yet (one more year till my youngest is gone). However, my thinking about this is changing. With the advent of homeaway/vrbo/airbnb and hotel apps (like hotel tonight/hotels.com/google), I think our...

So what were the ratings on those two? I have rented many times with VRBO and AirBnB all over the world and have never had a problem. However, the ones I rented had perfect to almost perfect ratings. I can tell you about many hotels I had poor experiences with. I still use hotels for short...

Matt, I'll let others discuss the finer points with regards to money. But the amount you need and what else you could make doing odd jobs depends on you. But I say you can. First, I think you need a leave of absence. I too retired from the technology sector at 47. Before dumping my job, I...

Yes but the HELOC gives us more flexibility. A couple of the major banks chief economists have mentioned this in the last few weeks citing low inflation and sluggish growth in the US/China and the Euro mess. Sixty year history from CMHC on both Markets Actually I have had the condo...

The nice thing about were I'm looking to buy is that it also has a huge civil service population so I would not need or likely want to rent to college students. It would be more upscale, so professionals. I do trust my kids...both are not the party type. They would see and use it like their...

Nords, First, thank you for your post...it has many ideas I now need to investigate. We never had a mortgage...I guess we were lucky that way. We used the HELOC to help fund a business we have. It now supports itself and with rates the way they are, the mortgage was cheaper than the HELOC...

Kombat, Thanks...I think that's good advice. But as Animorph mentioned, the market as some short term downside risk, so I will wait for a plunge to enter. In the meantime, I will do research on the Banks and other ideas.

Its a downtown, very urban market. Owning a condo can be less hassle. Houses are about twice the price too...but yes we have been looking at house also.

Thanks Richard, We are in Canada and not in the semi-bubble Toronto and Vancouver real estate markets. For example, the area we were looking at for an investment condo is actually safer than the market my house is in. How much return in appreciation is the question. Looking at government...

We are in our late 40s, semi retired with one kid in college and another in high school. Our home is paid off and we have a Line Of Credit on it of over $500,000 with zero borrowed. This house accounts for about 30% of our net worth. The community we are in is very stable but without much...

Don, Yes you are correct about the fruit. Press pressed is better tasting and no additives (except a little ice or water if too sweet). We use to drink Tropicana or Minute Maid. I see the USDA is after them for their misleading ads. I was naive enough to think is was almost all just fresh...

Seen and read a few articles on misleading packaging and it turns out everything is misleading. But what my DW found to be interesting is that they all come out of a box. So we have now gone on a lower carbs nothing out of a box diet. If we have orange juice, we squeeze it fresh, make our own...

I would cancel the bank account. I also do not allow any company to make monthly withdrawals on my bank account or credit cards. That way I can just stop paying if I'm not happy with the service. My system also monitors for fire and flooding. However, it would be simple to reprogram the...

When buying gas, I use the 'Gas Buddy' app to find the closes and cheapest gas bar. There are also parking apps, like Best Parking. I used it last weekend to go to a sporting event in Toronto. I paid $8 for the day while some where as much as $30 less than a block away. All you do before you...

Trip was great...would have eliminated the Paris leg as I have been there too many times now. Venice was really cool, like no other place I have ever been. Like the lack of noise from vehicles. Easy to get away from crowds. Walking Venice at night is the best. We visited Murano and Burano...

My brother has two chandeliers from Murano...similar to this one

All, Going to be spending 4 days in Venice and 5 Days in Barcelona with the Kids (16 & 19) at the Beginning of May as part of a family vacation. We have the Travel books and my daughter has been to Venice, but any suggestions of favorite activities or place to see or eat that are not in the...

One issue you may find a pain is that the kid may do it on his or his school/homework/activity timetable. Very few kids don't have regular activities (sports, clubs, etc). I have a plow on my truck and I do my elderly in-laws. Their elderly neighbor friends have had a different kid do it...