Getting ready to move back to Canada

Hi friends, I've been living in the States for 16yrs (attended University and onward) and we've decided to move back to Canada to be near family and friends. For the benefit of others, I'll journal our journey back on here and possibly my own website from selling house, moving stuff, cars, etc and all that fun stuff. I've read several posts here and elsewhere on tips and such when planning the move back. Hopefully the preparation being done right will alleviate as much stress and suffering as possible.

We've locked down a house in a new neighbourhood in the Hamilton, Ontario area which will be built in July 2008 time frame. We're putting our house up for sale in the next week here in Atlanta, in the middle of a US housing meltdown. Timing is great

To reduce pain of moving a lot of stuff, we're planning to sell as much of our stuff in the house before we move so its not a big move besides stuff we cant part with. Going through the car research to import them, looks like I'll get screwed a little on pricing/GST since the "street" price of my cars in Canada is higher than street price in the States. But oh well, grease up and go!

I'll keep you guys posted.

You might also want to check and find out what, if any modifications will need to be done to your cars to meet Canadian safety and emmissions standards. (ie: daytime running lights, metric gauges etc). It may be more cost effective for you to sell your cars here, and buy something when you get back to Canada.

When bringing your car up to canada from the US. Is it different for me since I need to live there a year first before I can file for residency? I have a 2002 Dodge Aveneger with about 75,000 miles and I own it. Maybe by the time I go through the hassel of paper work and more money to do this it would be easier to sell it and buy another one when Im in canada.My boyfriend has a vehicle and works at home so I could use his truck. What do you think. Im moving to BC around june of 08 after I graduate here in Washington. Blueyedterry

You would still need to properly "import" the car to canada in order to be able to put a BC license plate on it. (which you have to do within 6 months I think). Any modifications that need to be done will be out of your pocket (my Dad paid a couple thousand to have his truck modified for BC standards, and he moved there from Ontario, not US!).

Again, it may be more cost effective for you to sell your car in the US and buy something else once you get to Canada.