Student's killer on parole
Charges after investigation
Hostage was on captor 
Regulating power prices
Gen X is raking it in
LeBlanc laying groundwork
US vetoes UN resolution
$100M Nassar settlement
12 Trump jurors picked
Rates slow green economy
Vicinity hires president,
Record housing starts
Warriors ready for Round 2
Kalamalka Bowl cancelled
Rockets live to fight on
Rihanna's parenting ‘hack’
Tarantino scraps film
Munn talks cancer battle
What Albertans buying in B.C. need to know
Albertans wishing to purchase Vernon real estate must be aware of some distinct and important differences between the two provinces.
There are four major differences that are noteworthy:
Property Transfer Tax
This is the big one to beware of. Anyone who purchases property in B.C., unless you qualify as an exempt first time buyer (in which case you need to live in B.C. for 12 consecutive months among other qualifications), is subject to a transfer tax of one per cent on the first $200,000, two per cent between $200,000 and $2,000,000 and then three per cent over $2,000,000.
For Albertans paying zero per cent in their home province, this can be quite a shock.
RPRs do not exist:
Residential property reports with city compliance are mandatory in Alberta, but do not exist in B.C.
If you wish to know exactly where your property line is, you must receive an up-to-date survey from the seller, or hire a surveyor. Is this fence on our property? Best answer in B.C. is: Maybe.
This is a province-wide reality and sadly it doesn’t look like it will change any time soon.
Quick call backs are not commonplace:
In the major cities in Alberta, there is a hustle and a bustle and a general get-it-done attitude.
In the Okanagan, people have a tendency to be a little more laid back. Weekends are often precious, which is one of the area’s greatest charms, however often difficult to get used to.
Inversion:
Winters are foggy, cloudy and generally dismal. We don’t say things like: “At least it’s sunny!” Because it isn’t.
If you want sun, you will need to take a drive to Silver Star Mountain. Then, it feels more like you are in your Alberta home – sunny and really cold.
These are some of the main things that can be shocking to many Albertans who make the Okanagan their home.
However, Vernon’s four-seasons beauty, lack of gridlock, extended golf season, world-class ski resort so close by, and friendly atmosphere, make it all worthwhile.
Welcome to Vernon!
This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
