Mortgages British Columbia

📅 Last Updated: November 18, 2024

✏️ Written By Lisa Rennie

🕵️ Fact-Checked by Caitlin Wood

Table of Contents show

Mortgages British Columbia - Compare Providers

		Loan Amount	Rate	Term (Months)	Rating
0	0	Up to $50,000	Prime – 46.96%	3 - 120	Up to $50,000
100	1732233600	$50 - $1,500	-	Up to 62 days	$50 - $1,500
9	1718582400	$100 to $1500	24%	Next payday	$100 to $1500
100	1709683200	up to $1,250	12%-32%	90 - 150 days	up to $1,250
23	1700524800	$5,000 - $25,000	24.99% - 29.99%	30 or 60	$5,000 - $25,000
21	1700524800	$1,000 - $5,000	46%	9-24	$1,000 - $5,000
15	1695254400	$1250	16.06% (nominal) - 31.99% (effective)	3 - 5	$1250
3	1692748800	Up to $350	0%	Up to 65 days	Up to $350
8	1688083200	$150 - $1,600	10 - 35%	3 - 6	$150 - $1,600
100	1686182400	$300 - $3,000	18% + fees	6	$300 - $3,000
100	1686182400	$300 - $3,000	18% + fees	6	$300 - $3,000
100	1686182400	$300 - $3,000	18% + fees	6	$300 - $3,000
6	1683676800	$15,000	6.7%	Up to 60 months	$15,000
1	1670889600	$1,000 - $15,000	19.9% - 34.9%	-	$1,000 - $15,000
7	1666051200	$250	0%	-	$250
100	1643932800	$500 - $15,000	+18.9% APR	6 - 60	$500 - $15,000
100	1642723200	up to $1,500	-	-	up to $1,500
100	1734610184		29.9% - 46.9% APR	12 - 60
30	1637280000	$5,000 - $50,000	5.75% - 22.99%	Up to 84	$5,000 - $50,000
100	1623369600	Varies	0%	6 or 8 weeks	Varies
2	1620777600	Up to $35,000	9.99% - 46.96%	6 - 60	Up to $35,000
17	1607558400	$500 - $50,000	6.99% - 46.99%	12 - 36	$500 - $50,000
100	1598918400	$1,000 - $15,000	-	-	$1,000 - $15,000
100	1598832000	$500 – $15,000	+ 25.99%	9 - 60	$500 – $15,000
100	1595980800	$200 - $1,200	25% - 32%	-	$200 - $1,200
100	1593561600	-	0+	2 - 60	-
100	1589155200	$2,500	15.65% AIR	13 - 26	$2,500
100	1582243200	-	-	Up to 60	-
100	1580947200	-	-	-	-
100	1580860800	$500 - $5,000	-	12 - 24	$500 - $5,000
100	1580860800	$350 - $1,000	-	2 - 12 weeks	$350 - $1,000
16	1580774400	$1,000 - $25,000	8.99% - 34.99% APR	36 or 60	$1,000 - $25,000
100	1579478400	$100 - $1,500	-	-	$100 - $1,500
100	1579219200	$100 - $25,000	+4.9%	-	$100 - $25,000
100	1579219200	-	15% - 19%	-	-
100	1576713600	-	Up to 35%	-	-
18	1576713600	$500 - $100,000	6.99% - 14.99%	12 - 240	$500 - $100,000
100	1575590400	1800- 2900	15.99%	23 - 36	1800- 2900
100	1562198400	$500 - $15,000	15.99 - 39.99%	6 - 60	$500 - $15,000
100	1560124800	Up to $15,000	29.99% - 46.96%	9 - 60	Up to $15,000
19	1552262400	$1,000 - $15,000	29.9% or 46.90%	6 - 60	$1,000 - $15,000
100	1569974400	$500 - $50,000	15 - 30%	-	$500 - $50,000
100	1551830400	$1,000 - $15,000	19% - 46.95%	6 - 60	$1,000 - $15,000
100	1551398400	Up to $1,500	15% - 19%	14 days	Up to $1,500
100	1551398400	$100 - $1,500	15% - 17%	14 -31 days	$100 - $1,500
100	1551398400	$500 - $1,000	28% - 32%	-	$500 - $1,000
100	1551398400	-	-	14 days	-
18	1546128000	Up to $5,000	19.9% - 45.9% APR	6 - 36	Up to $5,000
100	1551139200	$5,000 - $35,000	9.9%+	6 - 60	$5,000 - $35,000
15	1551139200	Up to $15,000	29.99% to 46.93% APR	Open-end	Up to $15,000
100	1550534400	$300 - $25,000	7.95%+	36 - 60	$300 - $25,000
100	1550534400	$100 - $1,500	-	14 days	$100 - $1,500
100	1569974400	Up to $1,500	Varies by province	up to 62 days	Up to $1,500
100	1550534400	Up to $1,500	Up to 59% APR	14 days	Up to $1,500
19	1550534400	$2,500 +	-	-	$2,500 +
100	1550534400	$500 - $1,000	28% - 32%	3 -5	$500 - $1,000
100	1550534400	$300 - $1,000	38% APR	3 - 4	$300 - $1,000
100	1549411200	$100 - $1,000	546% APR	14 days	$100 - $1,000
100	1567555200	$300 - $3,000	18% + fees	6	$300 - $3,000
100	1549238400	$500 - $1,000	28% - 32%	4 - 5	$500 - $1,000
100	1549238400	$100 - $1,500	90% - 390% APR	14 days	$100 - $1,500
100	1549238400	$250 - $1,000	29% APR	3 - 4	$250 - $1,000
20	1548720000	$500 - $1,000,000	7.9%	12	$500 - $1,000,000
100	1548720000	$1,000 - $50,000	4.6% – 49.96%	3 - 60	$1,000 - $50,000
100	1548633600	$300 - $7,500	29.9% - 39.9%	6 - 60	$300 - $7,500
100	1548633600	$50 - $1,500	-	14 days	$50 - $1,500
100	1545955200	Up to $20,000	19% - 49%	36 - 48	Up to $20,000
16	1545264000	$2,000 - $10,000	18.9% - 54.9%	12 - 60	$2,000 - $10,000
5	1545264000	$500 - $10,000	12.99% – 39.99%	9 – 36	$500 - $10,000
2	1543622400	Up to $60,000	19.99% - 39.99%	6 - 120	Up to $60,000
100	1545177600	$2,000 – $10,000	34.9% - 43%	12 - 60	$2,000 – $10,000
10	1545264000	$500 - $12,500	19.99%+	12 - 60	$500 - $12,500
100	1545350400	Up to $1000	30%	3 - 5	Up to $1000
100	1545350400	Up to $5,000	60%	6 - 60	Up to $5,000
100	1545350400	Up to $3,000	22% - 35%	3 - 4	Up to $3,000
100	1545350400	Up to $7,000	-Up to 48.99%	Up to 60 months	Up to $7,000
100	1545350400	$500 - $2,500	29% - 46.95%	6 - 36	$500 - $2,500
5	1545350400	$500 - $1000+	28%-32%	3	$500 - $1000+
100	1545350400	$500 – $750	28% – 34.4%	3	$500 – $750
100	1545350400	$500 – $750	23% - 34.4%	3 – 12	$500 – $750
100	1545350400	$300 - $1500	27% - 35%	3 - 4	$300 - $1500
4	1545264000	$500 - $100,000	Starting at 29.99%	9 - 84	$500 - $100,000
3	1545264000	Up to $5,000	47.72%	-	Up to $5,000
4	1568937600	$1,500 – $10,000	Varies by province	Varies	$1,500 – $10,000
10	1545177600	$1,000 - $35,000	5.99% - 29.19%	36 - 60	$1,000 - $35,000
18	1545177600	$100 - $20,000	Up to 46.8%	Up to 60	$100 - $20,000
100	1569974400	Up to $1,500	15% - 23%	14 days	Up to $1,500

		Loan Amount	Rate	Term (Months)	Rating
0	0	Up to $50,000	Prime – 46.96%	3 - 120	Up to $50,000
3	1725321600	up to $40,000	-	-	up to $40,000
8	1714089600	$10,000 +	4%-45%	90 days+	$10,000 +
7	1714089600	$10,000 to $2,000,000	10%+	Up to 36	$10,000 to $2,000,000
3	1697414400	Up to $800,000	9% - 49.99%	3, 6, 9, or 12	Up to $800,000
2	1669852800	$5,000 - $300,000	-	3 - 24 months	$5,000 - $300,000
100	1648512000	$10,000 - $250,000	Varies	6-12	$10,000 - $250,000
100	1620345600	-	-	12 - 60	-
100	1611878400	$5,000 - $30,000,000	-	Up to 18	$5,000 - $30,000,000
17	1607558400	$500 - $50,000	6.99% - 46.99%	6 - 36	$500 - $50,000
100	1598918400	-	-	-	-
100	1592438400	-	-	-	-
100	1585612800	-	0.9% - 12%	6 months - 5 years	-
100	1581984000	$10,000 - $10,000,000	6% - 12.5%	-	$10,000 - $10,000,000
100	1581292800	-	-	-	-
100	1581033600	-	-	-	-
100	1581033600	-	-	-	-
100	1581033600	-	-	-	-
100	1580947200	-	-	-	-
100	1580947200	$10,000 - $1,000,000	-	-	$10,000 - $1,000,000
100	1580860800	-	-	-	-
100	1580860800	-	-	-	-
100	1580860800	-	-	-	-
100	1580860800	-	-	-	-
100	1580860800	$5,000 - $1,000,000	-	-	$5,000 - $1,000,000
100	1580860800	-	-	-	-
100	1580860800	-	-	-	-
100	1580860800	up to $250,000	-	-	up to $250,000
100	1580860800	-	-	-	-
100	1580688000	Up to $10,000	-	-	Up to $10,000
100	1580256000	$5,000 - $500,000	-	6 - 18 months	$5,000 - $500,000
100	1579478400	-	-	-	-
100	1579478400	$10,000- $30,000,000	Min 4.95%	-	$10,000- $30,000,000
100	1579478400	-	-	12 - 120	-
100	1579478400	-	-	24 to 60	-
100	1579478400	-	-	-	-
100	1579478400	-	-	-	-
100	1579046400	-	-	-	-
100	1578873600	-	-	-	-
100	1577059200	-	-	-	-
100	1577059200	-	-	-	-
100	1577059200	-	-	-	-
100	1575849600	$5,000 - $150,000	15% +	6 - 24	$5,000 - $150,000
100	1575849600	Up to $250,000	-	-	Up to $250,000
100	1575590400	-	-	-	-
100	1575590400	-	-	-	-
1	1545955200	$5,000 - $150,000	Fee-Based: Starting at 9%	12 - 60	$5,000 - $150,000
100	1552262400	$500,000 - $10,000,000	-	-	$500,000 - $10,000,000
100	1552262400	Up to $250,000	-	Up to 10 years	Up to $250,000
100	1552262400	-	-	-	-
100	1552262400	Up to $1,000,000	-	-	Up to $1,000,000
100	1551830400	$10,000+	-	Up to 15 years	$10,000+
100	1551830400	Up to $1,000,000	-	Up to 15 years	Up to $1,000,000
100	1551830400	Up to $500,000	-	Up to 10 years	Up to $500,000
100	1551830400	$5,000 - $10,000	-	Up to 7 years	$5,000 - $10,000
100	1551398400	$3,500+	-	-	$3,500+
100	1551398400	$10,000 - $1,000,000	4% - 14%	12 - 84	$10,000 - $1,000,000
100	1551139200	Up to $75,000	-	Up to 18	Up to $75,000
100	1550534400	$500-$50,000	0.5% weekly	12 week cycles	$500-$50,000
100	1550534400	$1,000 - $1,000,000	6% - 20%	-	$1,000 - $1,000,000
100	1550534400	Up to $5,000,000	4.5%	24 - 72	Up to $5,000,000
100	1550534400	-	-	-	-
100	1550534400	$5,000 - $200,000	-	-	$5,000 - $200,000
100	1549411200	$50,000 - $12,000,000	-	24 - 96	$50,000 - $12,000,000
100	1549411200	$5,000 - $1,000,000+	-	1 - 60	$5,000 - $1,000,000+
100	1549238400	$5,000 - $1,000,000	-	3 - 24	$5,000 - $1,000,000
100	1548720000	$5,000 - $5,000,000	-	4 - 18	$5,000 - $5,000,000
100	1548720000	Up to $100,000	6.05% +	60	Up to $100,000
100	1548720000	$10,000+	18% - 22%	-	$10,000+
100	1548720000	$10,000 - $300,000	4.70% - 5.45%	-	$10,000 - $300,000
100	1548633600	Up to $5,000,000	5% - 10%	12 - 60	Up to $5,000,000
10	1545177600	$1,000 - $35,000	5.6% – 25.5%	36 – 60	$1,000 - $35,000
100	1545264000	$5,000 - $250,000	-	3-18	$5,000 - $250,000
100	1545264000	$5,000 - $150,000	-	3 - 24	$5,000 - $150,000
6	1545350400	$5,000 – $100,000	15% +	12 – 18	$5,000 – $100,000
100	1545264000	$5,000 – $100,000	Starting at 6.87%	3 – 18	$5,000 – $100,000
5	1545177600	$5,000-$300,000	15% - 25%	4 - 24	$5,000-$300,000
4	1545177600	$5,000 – $500,000	Starting at 5.9%	3 – 60	$5,000 – $500,000
5	1545264000	$500 - $10,000	12.99% – 39.99%	9 – 36	$500 - $10,000
100	1561507200	Up to $300,000	-	-	Up to $300,000

		Loan Amount	Rate	Term (Months)	Rating
0	0	Up to $50,000	Prime – 46.96%	3 - 120	Up to $50,000
3	1632960000	Up to $50,000	15.99% +	12 -72	Up to $50,000
8	1624233600	Up to $50,000	29.99% – 46.96%	12 - 96	Up to $50,000
17	1607558400	$500 - $50,000	-	24 - 60	$500 - $50,000
100	1594339200	-	-	-	-
100	1582761600	-	-	12 - 96	-
6	1582761600	-	11.9% - 22.9%	Up to 84	-
100	1581033600	-	+ 4.9%	-	-
100	1581033600	-	-	-	-
100	1580688000	-	-	-	-
100	1579478400	-	-	-	-
100	1579478400	-	-	-	-
100	1579478400	-	-	-	-
100	1578873600	-	+8.99%	-	-
100	1578873600	-	-	-	-
100	1551830400	$5,000 - $10,000	-	up to 84	$5,000 - $10,000
100	1552262400	Up to $250,000	-	12 - 60	Up to $250,000
100	1552262400	Up to $1,000,000	-	up to 96	Up to $1,000,000
100	1551830400	Up to $100,000	-	6 - 96	Up to $100,000
100	1551830400	$10,000+	-	12 - 96	$10,000+
100	1551830400	Up to $1,000,000	-	up to 96	Up to $1,000,000
100	1577059200	-	-	up to 72	-
100	1577059200	-	-	-	-
100	1575849600	-	Starting at 4%	Up to 84	-
100	1575849600	$5000 - $45,000	4.90 % - 29.95% APR	36 - 72	$5000 - $45,000
100	1575849600	-	-	-	-
100	1575590400	-	-	-	-
100	1575590400	-	-	-	-
100	1575504000	-	-	-	-
6	1569974400	$7500 - $59,995	3.95% +	12 - 96	$7500 - $59,995
100	1562112000	-	Up to 49.9%	-	-
100	1561507200	-	-	-	-
100	1561507200	-	-	Up to 84	-
1	1560124800	Up to $100,000	3.99% - 19.9%	24 -96	Up to $100,000
100	1551830400	Up to $30,000	-	-	Up to $30,000
100	1548720000	-	-	-	-
100	1548633600	-	4.2%+	-	-
100	1545955200	Up to $20,000	19% - 49%	36 - 48	Up to $20,000
5	1545264000	$500 - $10,000	12.99% – 39.99%	9 – 36	$500 - $10,000
100	1545177600	Up to $50,000	-	-	Up to $50,000
100	1545177600	$5,000 – $40,000	-	12 – 72	$5,000 – $40,000
100	1545177600	-	-	Maximum 84	-

		Loan Amount	Rate	Term (Months)	Rating
0	0	Up to $50,000	Prime – 46.96%	3 - 120	Up to $50,000
100	1578873600	$1,000 - $35,000	-	24 - 60	$1,000 - $35,000
100	1545955200	Up to $20,000	19% - 49%	36 - 48	Up to $20,000
100	1545264000	Up to $25,000	-	12 - 60	Up to $25,000

		Loan Amount	Rate	Term (Months)	Rating
0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
3	1726531200	$15,000 +	6% - 16%	12 - 60	$15,000 +
7	1708473600	Varies	Varies	1 - 10 years	Varies
5	1700524800	-	-	-	-
6	1696377600	-	5.69% +	-	-
100	1695945600	-	-	-	-
100	1695772800	-	-	-	-
4	1690934400	Varies	5.54%+	Varies	Varies
2	1688601600	Min $100,000	5.34%+	2 - 10 years	Min $100,000
3	1679616000	$100,000 - $2 million	Fixed, variable, or adjustable rates	1 - 5 years	$100,000 - $2 million
100	1627344000	-	1.94% - 2.45%	12 - 60	-
100	1575849600	-	1.51% - 6.6%	1 - 10 years	-
100	1604016000	$15,000 to $1,500,000	+1.90%	-	$15,000 to $1,500,000
100	1581033600	-	2.74% - 6.30%	12 - 120	-
100	1580947200	-	-	-	-
100	1580860800	-	-	-	-
100	1580860800	-	2.64% - 4.45%	12 - 120	-
100	1580860800	$50,000+	2.74% - 3.49%	12- 120	$50,000+
100	1580860800	-	-	36 - 60	-
100	1580860800	-	-	-	-
100	1580860800	-	-	-	-
100	1580688000	-	2.79% - 6.00%	6 - 60	-
100	1579478400	-	2.74% - 3.70%	6 - 120	-
100	1578873600	-	-	-	-
100	1578873600	-	2.69% - 3.95%	6 - 120	-
100	1577059200	$25,000 - $800,000	4.59% - 5.64%	6 - 60	$25,000 - $800,000
100	1577059200	-	-	-	-
100	1577059200	-	--	-	-
100	1577059200	-	2.84% - 7.30%	-	-
100	1574985600	$100,000 - $750,000	-	12 - 120	$100,000 - $750,000
100	1574899200	min 25,000	3.89.% - 4.84%	12 - 60	min 25,000
100	1574899200	-	2.23% - 4.45%	-	-
100	1560124800	-	2.89% - 3.79%	-	-
100	1548806400	$10,000 - $1,500,000	Varies	12 - 24	$10,000 - $1,500,000
100	1548720000	-	2.41% - 3.84%	-	-
100	1548720000	-	-	-	-
1	1517097600	$10,000+	Based on equity	-	$10,000+

		Services	Rating
0	0	Debt Consolidation Program, Debt Settlement Program, Consumer Proposal, Bankruptcy Consultation	N/A (Referrer)
100	1576540800	Credit Counselling, Bankruptcy, Consumer Proposal
100	1576540800	Credit Counselling, Debt Management Program
100	1576368000	Credit Counselling, Debt Management Program
100	1576454400	Debt Restructuring, After Care - Credit Rebuilding Program, Corporate Debt Restructuring

Are you looking to buy a home in the near future? If so, you’ll likely need to take out a mortgage to finance such a large purchase. But before you do that, there are a few things you should know about mortgages in British Columbia, as well as what it takes to get approved for one.

For more information about loans in British Columbia, click here.

Credit Score Required to Get a Mortgage in British Columbia

Lenders take a close look at all mortgage applicants before they approve them for a home loan. In British Columbia, you’ll need a minimum score of 680 if you plan to apply for a conventional mortgage. Lenders within this sphere want to see a credit score of at least 680 in order to minimize their risk of lending out funds for a home loan. The higher your credit score, the higher your chances of securing a mortgage in British Columbia.

Any scores less than this will make it much more difficult to get approved in British Columbia. Even if your lender did approve your mortgage application, you would likely be offered less favourable terms and be charged a much higher interest rate compared to borrowers with a high credit score. If your credit score is currently less than 680, you may want to consider taking a few months to improve your score. This will make it easier for you to get approved for a mortgage with favourable terms and rates.

Alternative Mortgage Options For Bad Credit Consumers in British Columbia

What if your credit score isn’t as high as it could be? What if this is hindering you from getting approved for a conventional mortgage?

While this is certainly not an ideal situation, it doesn’t have to mean your dreams of buying a home are dashed. Instead, you may want to consider alternative options available in British Columbia. Here are just a few options you may want to consider:

Get a cosigner – If you’re unable to secure a mortgage on your own because your credit score isn’t high enough, you may want to consider getting a cosigner. In this situation, a cosigner would sign your mortgage along with you and serve as a backup in case you ever default at some point on your loan. While the cosigner does not actually have anything to do with the home you are buying, they will guarantee the loan in case you’re unable to continue making payments. If this happens, the cosigner would make the payments on your behalf.

Read this to learn what other types of loans you can get with a cosigner.

Take out a bridge loan – A bridge loan is actually a rather common financial tool that many Canadians in British Columbia take advantage of if their credit scores are sub-par. This financial product is designed as a short term solution for anyone who is looking to use their properties to help them give their credit a boost when traditional lenders have rejected their mortgage applications. Bridge loans can help borrowers in British Columbia gain access to a lower interest rate loan in the near future.

Want to know more about short-term mortgage financing and bridge loans? Look here.

Improve your credit score – Perhaps one of the best things you can do if you have bad credit that’s standing in the way of securing a traditional mortgage is to take the time to improve your score. There are several things you can do right now to do so:

Make timely debt payments
Utilise no more than 30% of your available credit
Don’t apply for too many loans in a short period of time
Keep old credit lines open
Don’t close out any debt accounts that still have an outstanding balance on them

Take a look at this infographic to see how bad credit can affect your daily life.

Mortgage Pre-Approval in British Columbia

People in British Columbia who are considering buying a home in the near future and taking out a mortgage to finance the purchase are highly encouraged to get pre-approved for a home loan before they start their home search.

A mortgage pre-approval is a commitment from the lender to loan you the money needed to finance a home purchase, though it will still be subject to other conditions, including home appraisal.

There are several key reasons why you would want to get pre-approved. For starters, it will help you find out exactly how much house you can afford. Your lender will tell you how much you may be able to get approved for based on the financial documentation and information you provide. From there, you’ll be able to focus only on properties that are within your budget. This will save you a lot of time and disappointment in the long run.

Pre-approvals can also help showcase you in a more positive light to sellers, who will see you as a serious buyer. This is especially helpful in hot seller’s markets where the competition among buyers is fierce. Buyers with a pre-approval letter in hand will have a competitive edge over those who have not been pre-approved.

A pre-approval can also help move the mortgage approval process along faster, since much of the work to review all the information has already been done.

Should you spend the entire mortgage pre-approval amount when buying a home? Click here to know.

Types of Mortgages Available in British Columbia

There are many different types of mortgages in British Columbia, depending on your particular situation, including the following.

Conventional mortgages – These are traditional mortgages that require a 20% down payment. Because of their low loan-to-value ratio, they’re less of a risk. As such, they’re not subject to mortgage default insurance, or CMHC insurance. Borrowers in British Columbia must have a good credit score and solid financials in order to get approved for a conventional mortgage.

Fixed rate mortgages – These mortgages feature an interest rate that does not change throughout the term of the mortgage. Because the rate is fixed, the mortgage payments stay the same, which is an attractive option for those in British Columbia who like to know exactly how much they’ll be responsible for paying each month.

Adjustable rate mortgages – Unlike fixed-rate mortgages, an adjustable-rate mortgage comes with an interest rate that fluctuates at set intervals and is adjusted based on the prime rate. Since the rate fluctuates, so do the actual monthly mortgage payments. The attractive thing about these mortgages is that the rate is usually lower than fixed-rate mortgages at the onset. However, once the rate is adjusted at set intervals, there’s always a chance that the rate can go even higher than rates associated with fixed-rate mortgages.

Second mortgages – These are mortgages that are taken out on a property that already has a mortgage on it. Basically, a second mortgage allows you to borrow against the value of your property. Since your home is an asset, its value will usually appreciate over time. Also known as home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) or home equity loans, second mortgages provide a means to use that collateral for other purposes without having to sell the home to free up the equity built up in it.

What is a Mortgage Amortization Period?

You will have a certain amount of time to repay the mortgage in full, which is referred to as the amortization period. Shorter amortizations come with higher monthly payments because the same loan amount will need to be paid off in a much shorter time frame.

Click here to learn the differences between a mortgage term and a mortgage amortization.

On the other hand, longer amortizations come with lower monthly payments, but they take longer to pay off. Further, longer amortizations are more expensive because more interest will have to be paid over the life of the loan compared to a mortgage with a shorter amortization period.

Mortgage Payment Options in British Columbia

In order to repay your mortgage in full, you’ll make payments in installments. Depending on what you choose and what your mortgage lender in British Columbia offers you, there are a few options in terms of frequency of mortgage payments:

Monthly – This is the most common mortgage payment schedule and involves making 12 payments per year.
Weekly – This is a more accelerated way to pay down your mortgage and involves making 52 weeks a year.
Bi-weekly – Another accelerated way to pay down your mortgage is by making bi-weekly payments, which involves making 26 payments per year.
Accelerated bi-weekly – This payment schedule involves making half of the monthly mortgage payment every two weeks.

For more information about these mortgage payment options, look at this.

How to Compare Mortgage Offers in British Columbia

As a borrower, you may want to take the time to compare mortgage offers in order to make the most informed decision on who to work with. When comparing different mortgage products and lenders in British Columbia, be sure to compare the following:

Interest rate
Term
Amortization period
Pre-payment options
Early repayment penalties
Fees

Be sure to read the fine print when comparing mortgages to make sure there are no other hidden fees associated with different mortgage products.

Wondering how you can pay off your mortgage early? Find out by reading this.

Hidden Costs of Buying a House in British Columbia

Along with paying your mortgage, there are plenty of other costs associated with buying a home. It’s important to find out exactly what these hidden costs are in order to determine precisely how much this major purchase will cost you overall.

Here are some fees that you should take into consideration before buying a home:

Down payment
Interest
Property taxes
Home inspection
Appraisal
Legal fees
Real estate commissions
Renovations
Maintenance fees
Property insurance
Title insurance
Property survey
Mortgage default insurance
New home warranty fee

The list is quite lengthy and the costs can really add up. Be sure to tally up all of these fees to help you establish the total cost to buy and operate a home.

For some more information about the hidden costs of buying a home, take a look at this.

Mortgage Insurance Rules in British Columbia

As stated earlier, conventional mortgage requires a minimum 20% down payment in order to avoid mortgage default insurance. This policy may be paid by the borrower, but it actually protects the lender in case the borrower defaults on the mortgage. This fee is usually added to each mortgage payment and is not required to be paid up front.

What’s the difference between a conventional mortgage and a collateral mortgage? Find out here.

How to Save for a Down Payment

A down payment is a crucial part of a mortgage in British Columbia. The amount that you are able to put down will determine how much you have to borrow from a lender. The more you can put down, the lower the loan amount will be and the less interest you’ll have to pay in the long run. Your monthly payments will also be lower.

Read this to know more about mortgage down payments.

Conventional high-ratio mortgages require no less than 5% down, while other alternative mortgage options may require less. That said, it’s always in your best interests to put down as much as you can in order to borrow less and avoid pay mortgage default insurance.

Here are some tips to help you save for a down payment:

Make saving a priority
Pay down your high-interest debt off first
Automate your savings
Cut down on expenditures
Borrow from your RRSP
Use a First Time Homebuyers Program if applicable

Check this out to discover some facts about Canada’s RRSP Home Buyers Plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a pre-approved mortgage in British Columbia?

Getting your mortgage pre-approved is an important step to the home buying process. You will get to know the maximum amount you qualify for and can plan ahead for monthly payments. You’ll also lock in a favourable interest rate for 2 to 4 months and sellers will be more willing to negotiate with you. To get pre-approved, you’ll need to consent to a credit check and provide certain documents. These include identification, proof of employment, proof of down payment and closing costs, and info about your assets, debts, and fixed expenses.

I have bad credit. Can I still qualify for a mortgage?

Lenders may decline to approve your mortgage if you have a bad credit history. However, some lenders will still consider approving you with some conditions. For example, you might only qualify for a lower amount or higher interest rate. In addition to this, you may be required to bring on a co-signer or make a larger down payment. Fixing errors on your credit report might also just be enough to make a difference.

Can I pay off my mortgage early?

Generally, the faster you pay off a loan, the more you save on interest. With an open mortgage, you can pay your mortgage off early or make extra payments without penalty. However, if you have a closed mortgage, you will incur a hefty prepayment penalty. This fee also usually applies when selling your mortgaged home or transferring to a new mortgage lender. Luckily, most closed contracts have a prepayment privilege, which is an agreement that lets you make early payments but only up to a certain amount agreed upon with the lender.

Final Thoughts

Taking out a mortgage is an involved process that requires due diligence on both your part and the part of the lender. There is a lot to take into consideration when it comes to mortgage approval, and you’d be well advised to strengthen your finances and credit in order to increase the odds of mortgage approval at a low-interest rate. When you’re in the market for a mortgage in British Columbia, contact Loans Canada to help you find the right mortgage lender and product for you.

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