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Editor’s Note: Mr. Vialoux is scheduled to appear on Michael Campbell’s Money Talks radio show tomorrow at 12:00 Noon EST (9:00 AM PST). Hear the interview on the internet at www.cknw.com
Pre-opening Comments for Friday February 8th
U.S. equity index futures are mixed this morning. S&P 500 futures are unchanged in pre-opening trade. Trading activity is expected to be lower than usual today due to winter storm Nemo hitting Eastern Canada and the North East U.S. states.
Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of the December trade deficit report. Consensus was $45.4 billion versus $48.6 billion in November. Actual was $38.5 billion.
Canada’s December merchandise trade balance was slightly better than expected. Consensus was a deficit of $1.5 billion versus a deficit of $2.0 billion in November. Actual was a deficit of $900 million.
Canadian January housing starts missed the mark. Consensus was 195,000 units versus 198,000 in December. Actual was 160,577.
Canada’s January employment report was mixed. Consensus for January employment was a gain of 5,000 versus 31,200 in December. Actual was a decline of 21,900. The January unemployment rate slipped from 7.1% to 7.0%. However, participation rate also declined.
Manulife Financial (MFC $14.64) is expected to open higher after CIBC upgraded the stock from Sector Perform to Sector Outperform.
Deere and Cummins are expected to open lower after ISI Group downgraded the stock from Strong Buy to Buy.
Teck Resources (TCK.B $34.45) is expected to open lower after JP Morgan downgraded the stock from Overweight to Neutral.
Linkedin gained $13.01 to $137.10 after CLSA upgraded the stock from Outperform to Buy. The company also announced higher than consensus fourth quarter earnings.
Gasoline Prices
CNBC headline reads, “Why gasoline prices are headed even higher”. Following is a link to the report:
Interesting Charts
Europe’s equity markets continue to weaken. ‘Tis the season!Italy has been particularly weak.
Now, here is a surprise! The most actively traded Chinese ETF is under technical pressure despite encouraging economic reports during the past couple of months.
Updates on Sector Seasonal Trades
Seasonal trades optimally have a technical score of3 based on (1) uptrend. (2) trading above its 20 day moving average and (3) outperforming the market (S&P 500 for U.S. holdings, TSX for Canadian holdings). Scores moving lower than 3 are warning signs. A score of 0=0.5 is a sell signal.
Technical score for the forest product ETF changed from 2 to 1 when WOOD moved below its 20 day moving average. Seasonal influences end in mid-February, but can extend to April.
Technical score on the Industrial SPDR changed from 3 to 2.5 when strength relative to the S&P 500 changed from positive to neutral. Seasonal influences are positive until early May.
Technical score on the Consumer Discretionary SPDR slipped from 3.0 to 2.5 when strength relative to the S&P 500 changed from positive to neutral. Seasonal influences are positive until mid-April
Technical score for the Retail ETF remains at 3.0. Units touched an all-time high yesterday. Seasonal influences are positive until mid-April.
Technical score for the Semiconductor ETF remains at 3.0. Seasonal influences are positive until the first week in March.
Technical score for the Materials SPDR remains at 1.0. Seasonal influences turn more positive near the end of February.
Technical score for the Home Builders ETF fell from 3 to 1 when units fell below their 20 day moving average and strength relative to the S&P 500 Index turned negative. The period of seasonal strength just ended. Take profits.
Technical score for Copper slipped from 3.0 to 2.5 after strength relative to the S&P 500 Index changed from positive to neutral. Seasonal influences are positive until May.
Technical score for Silver fell from 2.5 to 1.5 when units fell below their 20 day moving average yesterday. Seasonal influences are positive until the end of March.
Technical score for Platinum is at 3.0. Seasonal influences are positive until the end of May.
Technical score for Palladium is at 3.0. Seasonal influences are positive until the end of May.
Technical score for TSX Energy iShares dropped from 3.0 to 1.5 when units fell below their 20 day moving average yesterday and strength relative to the TSX Composite changed from positive to neutral. Seasonal influences are positive until early May.
Technical score for the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production ETF remains at 3.0. Seasonal influences are positive until the end of April.
Technical score for the Philadelphia Oil Services Index remains at 3.0. Seasonal influences are positive until the end of April.
Technical score for the Energy SPDR remains at 3.0. Seasonal influences are positive until the end of April.
Technical score for the Gasoline ETN is 3.0. Seasonal influences are positive until the end of April.
Thackray’s 2013 Investment Guide
Thackray’s 2013 Investor’s Guide is here. Order through www.alphamountain.com , Amazon, Chapters or Books on Business.
Special Free Services available through www.equityclock.com
Equityclock.com is offering free access to a data base showing seasonal studies on individual stocks and sectors. The data base holds seasonality studies on over 1000 big and moderate cap securities and indices.
To login, simply go to http://www.equityclock.com/charts/
Following is an example:
Eight Year Seasonality Chart on iShare Europe 350 Index
Eric Wheatley’s Listed Options Column
Good morning everyone,
Last week, we had a look at straddles and strangles and how they can be used to take on a directionless exposure to volatility in the market. As promised, this week we’ll look at how neutral strategies such as this one are relevant to understanding how one hedges options positions.
Let’s say you’re an options trader who believes that ABC options are undervalued. That is, you think that the volatility implied in the options’ prices is lower than what the realised volatility will be over the course of the options’ lives. You do not, however, have an opinion on what ABC’s price will do, you just think that it will move. You therefore decide to purchase a straddle.
ABC is currently trading at $50, so you, a professional options trader, buy 10 April 50 calls at $1.00 and 10 April 50 puts at $1.00 (all prices are simplified). In all, you’re paying $2 per underlying share – $2,000 net. Now, if you were simply a retail punter, you’d think that your break-even points are at $48 and $52 (that is, if ABC’s price drops below $48, you’d make money; same thing if the price rises above $52). This is because in either direction, either the call or the put will increase in value enough for you to cover your initial outlay of cash.
Here’s where it gets fun: the calls currently have a delta of 50% and the puts have a delta of ‑50%. Being a pro trader – like a market-maker – you always hedge your positions. Assuming that this is your sole ABC position, you’d actually not do anything at the outset, because you’re already hedged. That is, the 10 calls have an equivalent delta of long 500 shares (10 calls * 50%) and the puts have an equivalent delta of short 500 shares (10 puts * -50%), so you’re net flat.
Now, let’s assume ABC’s price drops to $49. The calls’ delta drops to 40% and the puts’ delta “rises” to -60% (yes, delta changes. It changes according to the options’ gamma, which is one step too far for today). Your net equivalent position is now short 200 shares, because the calls have an equivalent position of long 400 shares (10 calls * 40%) and the puts have an equivalent position of short 600 shares (10 puts * -60%). As a trader, you want to get back to neutral, so you’ll offset the short position by buying 200 shares.
The next day, ABC rises to $51. The calls’ delta is now 60% and the puts’ delta is now -40%. Your net equivalent position is now LONG 400 shares, because the calls have an equivalent position of long 600 shares (10 calls * 60%) and the puts have an equivalent position of short 400 shares (10 puts * -40%) AND you’re long 200 shares outright from your previous hedge. You’ve got to reset your hedge, so you’ll SELL 400 shares to reset.
Finally, the stock comes back to $50. The deltas come back to 50% and -50%, and you’re net short 200 shares, so you’ll buy those back to reset the position.
Why the gymnastics? Well, if you didn’t hedge off your position, you’d look at your straddle with grief. You paid out money to buy the options and, at the end of the day, ABC stayed at $50. If you hedge off your delta however, you’ll have profited from the moves – that is, the volatility – in ABC. To wit: you purchased 200 shares at $49, sold 400 shares at $51 and purchased 200 shares at $50. Net, you’ve made $600.
The point here is that options traders who hedge their positions have profits which are path-dependant. The non-hedger cares only whether the stock ends up outside the $48/$52 range. The trader who actively hedges doesn’t care a whit where the stock ends up, as long as it moves one whole heckuva lot between now and the options’ expiry.
If you BUY options, you are paying out money initially in the hopes of making money by intraday trading as you hedge off the position. Options SELLERS however LOSE money when the stock moves, so they are SHORT volatility (that is, they GET money in at the outset and hope that the stock doesn’t move by much thereafter).
All of this was to illustrate a few points:
a) Any options position can be rendered relatively immune to moves in the underlying stock, just like a straddle or strangle.
b) Options traders who hedge have an entirely different appreciation of volatility than other people.
c) Active hedging entails active trading. One has to make sure that one’s trading fees are relatively low if one wants to do this.
d) Shocking revelation: contrary to everything I’ve ever read about derivatives in the press and in theoretical manuals, options AREN’T a zero-sum game. One party only cares about the destination, the other only cares about the journey. It is therefore eminently possible for BOTH parties to make money on opposite positions, just as they could both lose money.
e)
I realise that I lost most of you two paragraphs in. I do beg your indulgence here, because THIS is what options are and how they work. If you hope to use these little animals properly, you need to understand why they behave the way they do.
Cheers!
Éric Wheatley, MBA, CIM
Associate Portfolio Manager, J.C. Hood Investment Counsel Inc.
eric@jchood.com
514.604.2829; 1.855.348.2829
*****************
Little known fact about John Charles Hood #60
John Charles Hood feeds his options only high-quality volatility, with animal protein being the first ingredient on the list and no fillers. Please spay and neuter your non-linear derivatives.
Disclaimer: Comments and opinions offered in this report at www.timingthemarket.ca are for information only. They should not be considered as advice to purch
ase or to sell mentioned securities. Data offered in this report is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed.
Don and Jon Vialoux are research analysts for Horizons Investment Management Inc. All of the views expressed herein are the personal views of the authors and are not necessarily the views of Horizons Investment Management Inc., although any of the recommendations found herein may be reflected in positions or transactions in the various client portfolios managed by Horizons Investment Management Inc
Horizons Seasonal Rotation ETF HAC February 7th 2013
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February 8th, 2013 at 8:33 am
NTR:
Kam – loved the photos – how is it that in one pic, he is blue, the other black… lighting/shadows? Sweet though powerful looking dog.!
Niel – You are indeed a character (LOL) and I am sure all 6 wives thought so!
(Portuguese Water Dog – similar to poodle – wonderful dog… (My accountant back in B.C. has one – is pleased) yep you and the Presidenta – why not)
Poodles were originally Russian swamp dogs – some Queen gave them a bad hairdoo – when left with natural hair they look like a dog!
February 8th, 2013 at 8:47 am
NTR again, sorry
Neil et al,
Check out UpTrend video this morning – Teddy Bear? Could it really be an apricot mini poodle? Ha HA Stephen doesn’t worry about his image. Think this photo may have been taken after one of his nieces/nephews dressed it up. LOL
http://www.theuptrend.com/StockMarketTimingNewsletter201302088.htm
February 8th, 2013 at 9:47 am
Margin Account:
Late last week: stopped out CFP to lock in profit. Had trailing stop.
This week: sold off CNQ and MBT; weak performers; replaced with BBD.B, chart looks better. If it breaks 4.20, moving much higher. This name was a dog last year, under performed, so this year probably better. We will see.
Do not have a lot of patience in margin account. Have my 20 names, review daily, anything drops 3-4-5%, I’m out and replace with better performer. Overall account performing well. Core defensive names with a few higher betas for oomph.
Scottsdale have been nice, looks like colder weather for a week or so. Down to the high sixties…maybe high 50s tomorrow. Mall weather….lol
February 8th, 2013 at 9:52 am
One more thing, I may buy back any name anytime if each name trend changes. It’s the whole account performance I look at….the names are pieces I put in or out depending on current performance. Margin is for capital gains and method is for minimum effort on my part.
February 8th, 2013 at 10:01 am
Canuck
Glad you are enjoying Aridzona! I am thinking about relocating back to B.C… could you please tell me the area you were looking at to relocate yourself? I want to be near the ocean and would need an area with usual facilities: retirement – hospitals, retirement homes… all stuff important for ageing
Thinking ground level town home – have 2 small dogs.
Any ideas most welcome.. love Victoria but something less expensive, perhaps.
February 8th, 2013 at 10:20 am
RE China
Lin on Twitter just explained that
Traders cash out $$ deposit to bank for very short term interests. After Chinese New year, stocks would go up again.”
So, getting out of my China Bear with a wee loss… did not think about all of that… who did? haha
February 8th, 2013 at 10:52 am
#5-Tawny
Well, if you think Victoria is expensive, then Vancouver and the rest of the Lower Mainland would be out of the question.
If you want to be close to the ocean, then 2 options really… Sechelt area or the rest of Vancouver Island, outside of Victoria.
Lots of people retire in Parksville… Vancouver Island….I haven’t checked it out as it is farther out of Victoria and I want to be close to an airport. They say it’s a lot cheaper.
I’m looking at Victoria and Langford. Langford is a burb of Victoria, lot of newer housing, all the big box stores… a little hilly tho….but close enough to the water…a short drive to the lagoon. Cheaper than Victoria…and Victoria tends to have lots of older properties….houses built in 1910, 1880s…not what I want in retirement. No handy man specials….lol…those days are gone.
Colwood is next door to Langford, closer to the water and fine as well but much smaller so less choice….. You can go farther out, but one has to do the research….some places just a few miles out get tons of rain, way more than Vancouver.
I’ve been finding it difficult as the inventory for Greater Victoria is rather small…. and attached 2 car garages quite difficult to find. Also in ground basements impossible as it is all built on solid rock… you can get walk outs on the side of a hill tho.
But the internet is a great thing. One can do most of the research online and narrow down the areas to spend less time on the ground.
If you find and area you like, I would do a lot of hard research on the weather, it can change dramatically from one area to another.
February 8th, 2013 at 11:07 am
Tawny
thx for the reminder, had forgotten that this week is chinese new year…
this may be the reason why markets had stalled…
February 8th, 2013 at 11:10 am
Canuck
I posted the following post on wednesday for you.
tony Says:
February 6th, 2013 at 4:25 pm
Canuck
CUF
if you get a chance of reading the following.
I was talking to one manager today and he told me they purchased GE offices troughout quebec and they wanted to move into ONT and so this was a viable option for them as they took on all the ottawa office space available.
maybe a little pullback in the next couple of day in this name would be a good opportunity…
it pays 6.26% return.
P.s I don’t work for any investment firm, but I do work in one of their offices. and had to deal with a manager today for an expansion of our equipment so needed electrical box to be modified.
February 8th, 2013 at 11:22 am
Canuck
Re #5 NTR
Thanks a great deal for all of this… will do my research. May not be buying but renting which is not a bad idea as we age. Do not necessarily want money tied up in real estate… one has to be thinking “possibility” of retirement housing/nursing? looming longer term.
Canuck, I am doing a great deal of thinking and toying with various ideas – everyone has a different situation. My husband is 10 years older than moi, so going south for winter vacations becomes expensive for med. insurance. At least in the warmer Canadian climes (i.e. Vitoria area) winters are shorter and much milder. I have a lot of homework to do!
Thanks for any help.
February 8th, 2013 at 11:39 am
#9- CUF
I own lots of it in my RRSP…and have for quite some time. An excellent REIT with great long term prospects. NOT a trading stock….buy and hold forever, add on weakness…BUT…like all things, 5% max position for an RRSP.
February 8th, 2013 at 11:59 am
#10-Tawny
This health Insurance issue is a great concern…My youngest brother had a heart attack while in the emergency in Florida a couple weeks ago…good place to be otherwise he’d be dead if he was a home. NOW he is no longer covered for heart attacks….he spent 3 days in Critical care, 2 in Intensive, 1 in “Special” care… must have cost plenty.
He owns property in Deerfield Beach… is it worth it? can he keep coming down there every winter? His planned trip to Panama had to be cancelled, and I think now for him any trip must be in a first world country where there is decent hospital care.
People do not realize as we get older, health insurance going South becomes a major cost and concern. Costs are NOT static, as one gets older, they increase. If one has health issues, it increases….insurance companies are in the business of collecting premiums not paying out claims…it is a PROFITABLE business.
My younger brother died of cancer 6 years ago at 52, my youngest brother is now 52, I am 60. My dad died at 57… his dad died at 57…..so far I am healthy with no medical issues. But for how long? One does not live forever… time horizon shrinks with age….
My wife is 2 years older than me…but she has medical problems that increase her Health Insurance premiums…double mine.
Problem with renting out on the coast is that there are no rent controls, rents are to market. Rents are not stable like Ontario or Quebec, they can double quickly….less so in outlying areas…but often in Vancouver we have .001% vacancy rates… people have to sleep in their cars as there are no rentals available at any cost. Owning is preferable, control over costs.
BC is a fast growing Province…the future of Canada is out West. I’ve been here since 1970…from Ottawa, so…I’m aware of the differences.
February 8th, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Re: #12
Canadians should be thankful that they do not have to worry much about health costs in this country. Not a perfect system but you will not have to worry about bankruptcy if an issue occurs.
February 8th, 2013 at 12:14 pm
Tawny,
Have you considered Nanaimo? My sister and her husband moved there a few years ago while still working to retire there. My parents are their now – so I have only been there to visit them. Prices seem to be more reasonable there.
Deb
February 8th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Canuck
NTR
Re #10 — all this has been taken in to my little grey cells.
I am sorry about your brother’s attack at 52! WOW. scary.
My husband (80 years old) has no medical issues… takes a bit of drug to keep his cholesterol low and that is all. Nevertheless, out of country medical insurance is very expensive just because of his age. It would be much higher if he was at risk.
I am 69 and also have no health issues (save a bunion foot – which of course some 25 year old’s also have). But over time, who knows.
We were formerly B.C. people – did very well on a house I designed and built in Kelowna, took (double) profits and came to Kingston bought a house for cash with leftovers. The reasons we came here are no longer applicable and I want to go back to a temperate zone. Even, if living west is more expensive, it is probably cheaper than living in a deep freeze and spending time down South for the winter with the med. ins. cost escalating.
It has been so long since I rented, I haven’t thought about rent controls etc. Thanks for all.
Take care of your health. The only way to hopefully live a longer life with fewer health issues is to become a NUTRITATIAN! Check out Dr. Fuhrman “How to Live for Life. There are lots of foods we can all eat every day to build immunity against diseases. I enjoy cooking healthy very tasty food so we eat extremely well comparatively, but I also indulge now and again!
Guess the proof is in the medicine cabinet… pretty empty!
February 8th, 2013 at 12:30 pm
mick
Re #11 – YES, YES. I scream “the only thing Canadians can really complain about is
THE WEATHER!”
February 8th, 2013 at 12:33 pm
dEB
iT’S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE i WAS IN AND A ROUND VaN. iSLAND. (KEYS!!O#%$#%#%##!)
Personally I never cared for Nanaimo and Parksvile… but change happens.
I think I should organize a lengthy trip and check it out. There are also nice places around Abbotsford / Chilliwack, etc. , but colder in winter, hotter in summer..
February 8th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
You might want to consider White Rock. Much better climate than the Fraser Valley or lower mainland, similar to Victoria. All facilities are there too.
February 8th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Mavis
Love White Rock (unny little painted rock that it is) – special little micro climate there… but also very expensive.
February 8th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Mavis
#19 – should be “funny little painted rock)!
February 8th, 2013 at 1:47 pm
NTR
Tawny – my inlaws live in Nanaimo and love it. Parksville, Qualicum, and the Courteny/Comox area are very popular retirement places. I visit the Courtenay/Comox area every year, and stay at a beautiful, rustic beach resort. I understand Comox is becoming more popular, and they have a hospital there too. A friend of mine’s mother was in an extended care home in Comox which I think was quite nice.
February 8th, 2013 at 1:56 pm
Wendy
NTR : Thanks for all that info… remembering, aha I love Qualicum Beach, beautiful and quaint. Many things to consider, just been searching on line for information on Retirement homes and such… There comes a time when one should really start planning for the final years. Oh my!
February 8th, 2013 at 2:17 pm
The markets
Looks like market fear has come off for the moment – Europe was the cause as far as I am able to discern. Agreements have resulted in the meetings. I am nibbling back at my Europe etfs… prefer to buy back cheaper than I sold them, eh! (Canadian talk)
Seem the reason Chna pulled back was the traders pulled money out for the vacation.
So, now what? Most US is still overbought.
I am putting my money in low valuations.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
Tawny,
Tech Talk indicated in their comment section today that this is the season for Europe to go down. I checked Equity Clock for further information butto no avail. There was not any chart to look at. It might be interesting to get more info.
Tech Talk,
If you could elaborate about seasonality of the European market, it would be very much appreciated.
Wendy,
Qualicum is actually quite nice. Would you mind to provide the name of that beach resort you were referring to? I would be interested for my next visit in that beautiful area. Thanks
February 8th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
Martine
Re Europe – just pondering.. Europe is in an unusual position this year, it seems to me anyway, in that it is just coming out of a very bad year (and more).. I personally do not think I will read too much into typical historical data and would prefer to just go with charts as valuations (CAPEs) are still so very low.
I was just doing some research looking for Canadian core ETFs to hold… I can hardly believe my eyes on this one – maybe something wrong (I am way over tired)
http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=XMV.TO#symbol=xmv.to;range=1y;compare=xic.to+hac.to+fie.to+xre.to;indicator=volume;charttype=area;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=off;source=undefined;
February 8th, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Further to #25
If one changes the time frames, quite different results… still XMV (incep. 24 July 2012) is a nice core holding.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Tawny,
True re CAPEs, but not as cheap as it was this past June. Currently, I am watching the USD and EUR very closely. The EUR got knocked down quite a bit this past week. Jon V. posted a nice chart re. the euro today showing the channel it has been trading within since August 2012. Take a look at it under the Equity Clock comment section. Once it touches the bottom of that channel assuming it resumes its uptrend over the next few months, it is a useful addtional tool to time your reentry in European equities.
February 8th, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Martine
Will do so… http://finance.yahoo.com/news/euro-falls-against-dollar-draghi-190651731.html
Europe is not AS cheap but still relatively so very cheap in some zones.
Martine, what are you buying (or not) these days, if I can ask?
et bon fin de semaine!
February 8th, 2013 at 4:28 pm
Re: Europe seasonal patterns
Can find it here for some of the European indices :
http://www.seasonalcharts.com/indices_laender.html
February 8th, 2013 at 5:02 pm
Commenting to todays discussion, I currently live in Abbotsford, moved here from Ontario (Kitchener) in 1994. My preferred place to live closer to the ocean in order of preference are 1) White Rock, 2) Victoria (Oak Bay), 3) West Vancouver. I am in my 50′s and hobbies are photography and scuba diving.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:58 pm
mick/nv,
I forgot that site. Thank you for the reminder. I will take a look later.
Tawny,
I will try to get back to you later. I am about to shut down my PC for the night. This is Friday after all. However, I have quite a bit of shovelling to do. It is however gorgeous outside.
February 8th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
Martine
Re #31 – that would be nice. I just came to shut my computer down. The snow is beautiful to look at and I shoveled our deck (it is the poop deck for the dogs in winter, LOL). The snow is a very light powder… so easy to shovel. All beautiful to look at but we are housebound! Our driveway is knee high and streets have yet to be plowed.
Oh, for that soft, sweet gentle rain that makes Vancouver (and other places) green most of the year!
February 8th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
Roger
Just saw your post… so you cannot live in one of these preferred (expensive, I might add) places? They are indeed, all lovely – each of them. Perhaps your work keeps you inland?
February 8th, 2013 at 9:12 pm
White Rock: by the way, it is a very small municipality…something like 10 blocks by 10…taxes are very expensive there. On the plus side, the bulk of the area thought as White Rock is really South Surrey, and taxes are much lower… Ocean Park is a nice area, large and quiet but with little shopping…a sea of houses…. South Surrey AKA Morgan Creek area however has gotten very built up in the past few years, has cheaper condos/townhouses and tons of shopping. I am considering this area…however townhouses tend to be the 3 story type… ground floor garage, next floor kitchen/great room, third bedrooms…not a great layout for retirement…way too many stairs.
There are good condos, but these days small sq ft and open plan…which feels bigger, but noisy.
February 8th, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Re;post 34. Hi canuck2004, thanks for the update on you’re transactions this am btw. On a nice place to live, have you considered Ontario. Lovely here, high humidity, extremes in summer and winter, today a blistering storm, white outs, 12 to 15+ inches of drifting snow, drifts 2 feet high. It’s what keeps us all young. Hniel/Kingston
February 8th, 2013 at 10:04 pm
NTR
Martine #24 – It’s called The Alders Beach Resort, located between Courtenay and Campbell River, they have a website. I’ve been going there every summer since I was one (a very long time)! The same families go year after year, so it is very hard to get into, but they do have random vacancies. I’ve got my cabin assignment for this summer already, and have to pay by the end of April after which I imagine they will know if they have any vacancies.
February 9th, 2013 at 9:33 am
Hniel
Re #35 – oh yeah! We do have wonderful weather in Southeastern Ontario – simply loverly. Came to computer to check out forecast here in Kingston… here is a link for you Hneil (this is why our 2 small dogs have a poop deck!
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/your_weather/details/620/9957501/9/caon0349/plpcities/786/
February 9th, 2013 at 10:44 am
#35-Hneil
I’m from Ottawa…. all my family lives there and I did consider it seriously. Real Estate is cheap, but property taxes way too high…prop.taxes on a 350k house in Ottawa are equivalent to taxes on a 1 mil house in Vancouver. don’t see the financial advantage.
In addition my wife does not speak French, so hard for her as my family is French speaking. Tried in the early 70s, did not work out, wife hated it.
I thought OK go South for winter like my youngest brother….avoid the cold…..but Florida also high humidity in Winter as well, it is Sub-Tropical. I was there a couple weeks ago, and it rained almost every day….I can do that in Vancouver for free….lol…ok it’s warmer, but you still spend the day in the house….so? Same difference….Why bother…
I like AZ as it is DRY and SUNNY every day…may not be as hot as Florida…but for people from Vancouver it is a welcome change.
February 9th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
NTR …re: post 37 and 38, in my post about lovely Ontario weather, as you know, I was just kidding. Sheesh after spending the entire morning plowing my drive and kennel parking lot, neighbours drive,(luckily I have a 4 wheel drive compact JD with bucket) snow blowing walks and dog runs, shoveling my deck, etetc of course my wife helped the entire time as well, one does start to wonder why we live here. I love Ontario though and any time I’ve traveled to eastern provinces or to BC, 4 times in fact, I can’t wait to get back to Ont. Just me I guess. Enjoy the nice climate in AZ Canuck, don’t worry about some of us left behind to fight winds and drifting snow.LOL Take care. Hniel/Kingston
February 9th, 2013 at 6:05 pm
Tawny – healthcare cheap in Mexico – Lk Chapala mostly expats – new lodge/longtermcare facility going up. Good docs, great weather year round. Looking myself
February 9th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
#39-I know you were kidding… Ontario humidity in summer is a killer, Quebec side no different. In fact the whole East coast is the same.
Main difference in Vancouver is that it is damp, like a cool basement, it is a shrill piercing kind of damp….not heavy humid like Ontario…that humid you can feel the weight of on your skin and makes it hard to breathe.
All depends what one can tolerate.
In Richmond where I live for example, always temperate….rarely at freezing…. winter 40 to 55 degrees F average; summer rarely above 80, so overall quite easy to live with.
Of course Richmond has the highest percentage of visible minorities, mostly Asian. Culturally speaking, makes it quite different from the rest of Canada. Large parts of town, strip malls have Chinese only signage. No problem for me, but Easterners get a little worried.
February 9th, 2013 at 9:11 pm
NTR, Hi Canuck, yes I could see that as a bit of a concern, nice to see English signage. My brother lives in the Penticton area on Skaha Lake, he’s a retired rcmp(not a good recommendation with their recent press I always joke with him about). I recall once my wife and I went to a wedding there, stay in Vanc for a couple of days and then went to Whistler, drove down on what they call the Duffy lake road, sheesh, it was terrifying for someone like me afraid of heights and used to flat Ontario ground. No guard rails and it must have been a mile or two into the canyons. I recall my wife saying there is a logging truck right behind us, MY response was…bfd. I recall the humidity in the Okanagan was zilch, very hot and dry the few time I have been there. Another time we were in BC was Comox. A search and rescue guy (at that time was in Trenton and would land his big Labrador I think it was called, the two engined copter, and take us for a spin, I had to ask him to quit as it annoyed a couple of neighbours)’back to the story… had bought a puppy off us, many years ago we bred and would show collies, anyway, we went to visit him in Comox and I really liked the Qualicum sp? beach area but as I likely expressed earlier, I am too boring and set in my ways to move anywhere, especially enjoying life in Ont. I better sign off as I could go on all night here having a few glasses of red wine. BTW, Canuck, always appreciate you sharing your buy and sell ideas. Helps me for sure, just as Tony’s posts do. Have a safe weekend. Hniel/Kingston
February 10th, 2013 at 9:24 am
Hi Kyra ,
Quote ” health care cheap in Mexico ” == Can you give more details please ?
How you travel from Canada to Lake Chapala ( Ajijic? I suppose )
How was you trip there ?
Thanks for your info .
February 10th, 2013 at 11:31 am
Hi all, thought this link might be interesting reading for some, given the retirement destination discussion today.
February 10th, 2013 at 11:32 am
forgot the link! here it is:
http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/photos/top-10-retirement-destinations-of-2013-slideshow/
February 10th, 2013 at 11:46 am
Kyra
Re #40 – hope you pop back in here ! Thanks re Lake Chapala. I have heard of this place. Also San Miguel. Heard that Lk. Ch. is newer and less expensive. I have also read somewhere that retirement homes in Mexico are very reasonable. Some people vacationing in Texas go across to Mexico for dental work as it is so reasonable. I really want to learn more about this area and if you have anything more to share I would appreciate it.
An important issue that I have yet to explore is the ramifications of leaving Canada – besides losing health benefits, there are issues such as money out of registered retirement funds. Does one still get their Canadian pension monies? so much to consider.. this is going to take some time.
It is so nice that people here are sharing their knowledge.
Kyra – haven’t seen you on board for some time. You used to show us some great charts.
February 10th, 2013 at 11:49 am
Further to my post #46.- One simple question to Goldie Google brought me this
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/nnrsdnts/ndvdls/lvng-eng.html
I have a love/hate relationship with computers
So much information available. So time consuming. So much to learn about operating them … constantly!