- Joined
- Jul 14, 2009
- Messages
- 28
Canadians buying homes in Arizona ` And one easy way to get escorted from the country!
Don`t do the work yourself unless you want a one way ticket back to Canada.
You have just decided to buy your new home in Sunny Arizona. Congratulations! Occasionally you may rent it out to help cover the costs. It needs a coat of paint, things taken to the dump and new countertops. Easy ` you can handle this and want to save some money.
So what happens if you do the work yourself?
Immigration can come and get you and escort you from your lovely new home all the way back to Canada. They can deem your home is a rental business and you are taking jobs from Americans by doing the work yourself. They don`t have to come today; they may show up a year after you completed the work because a neighbour decided to complain. Has this happened? You bet! Buyer Beware!
We all know how reasonable INS is and how they want to hear all about your side of the story. So after they send you back to Canada you can tell your side of the story with help from lawyers. This will be far more expensive than the savings you hoped to achieve. Not to mention time consuming.
Prices are very low ` not just house prices ` but also for renovations. The current housing problems have created a glut of very good contractors who will work for very good prices. They would be very pleased to complete the work for you in a timely and efficient manner. In Canada I worked with many building trades and am used to Canadian prices. I was very pleasantly surprised to find prices in Arizona about 40% cheaper than a comparable job on our side of the border.
Make sure you get and check references. Ask your Realtor or Title Company for a reference. Or ` ask me!
If the home is truly a second home and you will not be renting it then feel free to paint away. It is not a business venture and you are not taking jobs from Americans. If you are renting the home then pay the contractor to have the renovations done. It is money well spent.
Don`t do the work yourself unless you want a one way ticket back to Canada.
You have just decided to buy your new home in Sunny Arizona. Congratulations! Occasionally you may rent it out to help cover the costs. It needs a coat of paint, things taken to the dump and new countertops. Easy ` you can handle this and want to save some money.
So what happens if you do the work yourself?
Immigration can come and get you and escort you from your lovely new home all the way back to Canada. They can deem your home is a rental business and you are taking jobs from Americans by doing the work yourself. They don`t have to come today; they may show up a year after you completed the work because a neighbour decided to complain. Has this happened? You bet! Buyer Beware!
We all know how reasonable INS is and how they want to hear all about your side of the story. So after they send you back to Canada you can tell your side of the story with help from lawyers. This will be far more expensive than the savings you hoped to achieve. Not to mention time consuming.
Prices are very low ` not just house prices ` but also for renovations. The current housing problems have created a glut of very good contractors who will work for very good prices. They would be very pleased to complete the work for you in a timely and efficient manner. In Canada I worked with many building trades and am used to Canadian prices. I was very pleasantly surprised to find prices in Arizona about 40% cheaper than a comparable job on our side of the border.
Make sure you get and check references. Ask your Realtor or Title Company for a reference. Or ` ask me!
If the home is truly a second home and you will not be renting it then feel free to paint away. It is not a business venture and you are not taking jobs from Americans. If you are renting the home then pay the contractor to have the renovations done. It is money well spent.
