I will be moving to Vancouver to live in about 6 months. I am selling my house in the US and using that money to buy a place to live. However, I do need to supplement my income for about 5 more years. What is the easiest way to get a work permit to allow me to get a job? Because of my age (56) I can't pass the "point" test. I have a degree and a lot of work experience but I will be coming up there by my self. How hard is it to get a permit. In fact, how hard is it to be allowed to buy a house and live in Vancouver if you are a US citizen? HELP PLEASE.

There is nothing which would bar a foreigner from buying a house in Canada. In order to be able to obtain a work permit, you would have to have a job offer. See the work visa FAQfor information on the steps and processes.