Living in Windsor and working in Detroit. Good idea? (ski resorts, safe)

[SadieMirsade]

Income taxes are higher at the upper middle and top, but not at the bottom. Consumer goods aren't all taxable. Some stuff is tax-exempt. In Ontario, the maximum HST is 13%
On the other hand, the gov't issues HST refunds to low income families, and another "free money" monthly cheuque, to help lower income working families for pay for daycare.

Regarding income tax,
almost nothing for low income families....making under 30K a year, plus the gov't sends them a monthly cheque of about $375 per kid, plus free healthcare for all, plus free dental care for the kids.
This $375 per month, decreases with rising income.

[RingWalk]

Income tax is close to 50 percent as you approach six figures, though, right?

[SadieMirsade]

Originally Posted by RingWalk

Income tax is close to 50 percent as you approach six figures, though, right?

Lotta deductions. Plus retirement plan deductions. Plus...plus...
But, unlike in the US, you can't deduct any part of your mortgage payment.

You own ONE home, but if you reside in it for at least 6 months, any capital gains on it, are all yours. There's no ceiling whatsoever.

There are deductions on second home ownership (against capital gains)....depending on if it's only for personal use, or a rental property.

Like I said earlier, it's much more generous at the bottom (with all the freebies available for the working poor),
kinda stingy for the middle class,
and pretty generous for the very wealthy (they've got all kinds of loopholes....like everywhere ).

The big "kill" is the average cost of real estate (I mean, let's be frank...Michigan has some of the cheapest luxury real estate in the ENTIRE WORLD).
It's a give-away, by world standards. You just have to "make" your own job and reason $$$ for living in Michigan.

On the other hand, Windsor has some of the cheapest real estate in Canada. Kinda like Canada's Detroit,
without all the urban dysfunction.

[RingWalk]

Yeah...Windsor is pretty boring. I can see how the real estate would be cheap there.

[leroythelion]

Originally Posted by RingWalk

Income tax is close to 50 percent as you approach six figures, though, right?

Easily 50% if you take the provincial and federal income taxes in the calculation. Provincial income tax rates vary a lot.

I think a fair comparison is that in Canada, they tax the hell out of you and pay you back in benefits (free healthcare, gov't sponsored daycare, relatively cheap University education, Canada Pension Plan, etc.). In the US, you get to keep a lot more of your paycheck but have to pay out a lot more later. If you are not a good saver, you will be in a lot of trouble.

For what it's worth, I am a dual Citizen and choose to live in the US. I found my career choices here to be more plentiful and rewarding. I grew up in Canada and miss it a lot, but have no plans of returning.

[SadieMirsade]

Originally Posted by leroythelion

Easily 50% if you take the provincial and federal income taxes in the calculation. Provincial income tax rates vary a lot.

I think a fair comparison is that in Canada, they tax the hell out of you and pay you back in benefits (free healthcare, gov't sponsored daycare, relatively cheap University education, Canada Pension Plan, etc.). In the US, you get to keep a lot more of your paycheck but have to pay out a lot more later. If you are not a good saver, you will be in a lot of trouble.

For what it's worth, I am a dual Citizen and choose to live in the US. I found my career choices here to be more plentiful and rewarding. I grew up in Canada and miss it a lot, but have no plans of returning.

It's still good to have Canadian citizenship. Just in case something goes wrong.

Great to have it together in a country where "the winner takes all", but if something goes wrong, and you "lose", you're in big trouble (like so many Americans).

[tarp]

Is there some sort of commuter pass or discount for the tunnel for those who make the trip daily?

Also, are there any ski areas remotely near Windsor (on either side of the border)?

[RingWalk]

Originally Posted by SadieMirsade

It's still good to have Canadian citizenship. Just in case something goes wrong.

Great to have it together in a country where "the winner takes all", but if something goes wrong, and you "lose", you're in big trouble (like so many Americans).

We do have some social safety nets, you know. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare programs for the indigent. And I only paid a fraction of my true college tuition due to both scholarships and need-based grants.

As far as health care, I agree our system needs reform.

[Duluth07]

It isn't impossible, but it takes a lot of research, time, waiting, and money. I am in the process as we speak, and it's been a 5 year research for me. I have no kids and am 'unattached' - plus I have a degree. For me, it's probably the easiest. It's when you have kids, a spouse, a lot more red tape and paperwork come into play.

For one thing, even if you plan on working in Michigan, you still have to apply for a work permit in order to gain landed immigrant status. In case you lose that job in Michigan, you need to be able to say you can find employment in Canada, and have the means to support yourself until that happens. This is the tough part - you have to do all the work yourself. You have to find out what you're qualified to do, look that up in Canada's job and skills website, and see how 'in demand' your work is. If you're a cleaning lady, you're not going to have any chance. If you have a degree, any degree, chances are you'll be fine. But it's going to take a long time. You have to get that work permit, as I said, a job offer, then a social insurance number. Gone are the days you could just live in 'Windsor' for convenience - you're now moving to a new country and assuming citizenship is a possibility - but remembering there are hundreds of thousands of other people looking to move to Canada with much more money, education and job skills than you. Americans tend to overestimate their chances at getting Canadian citizenship until they see exactly who else is applying. I think in some ways it's unfair; particularly if there are American-owned companies that are in Canada,and if you work for one in the US, you should be given priority to work at that company's Canadian office if you so choose. Maybe we'll see that someday.

Hopefully the rules and laws will be more relaxed for Americans who wish to reside permanently in Canada (and vice versa) who are law abiding, educated and just have an interest in living there. The way it is now you'd think you are applying to move to New Zealand or something.

[desertdetroiter]

Living in Windsor and commuting to Detroit is one hell of an extreme measure simply to avoid crime and bad schools. It makes no sense at all unless you're already a Canadian citizen or have a Canadian spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend. Otherwise, it's asenine.

As much as i love Windsor, you can find a place in the Detroit Metro area with low crime and good schools for a pittance these days. If you can afford to live in Windsor, i can't imagine an area in the Metro that you can't afford with the exception of the "most exclusive" areas.