📅 Last Updated: August 26, 2022
✏️ Written By Lisa Rennie
🕵️ Fact-Checked by Caitlin Wood

Mortgages Toronto - Compare Providers

ProviderLoan AmountRateTerm (Months)Rating
00 Up to $50,000Prime – 46.96%3 - 120
Up to $50,000
1001709683200 Dashloansup to $1,250 12%-32% 90 - 150 days
up to $1,250
231700524800 Parachute$5,000 - $25,000 24.99% - 29.99% 30 or 60
$5,000 - $25,000
211700524800 AimFinance$1,000 - $5,000 46% 9-24
$1,000 - $5,000
151695254400 GoLoans$1250 16.06% (nominal) - 31.99% (effective) 3 - 5
$1250
111692748800 BreeUp to $250 0% Up to 61 days
Up to $250
81688083200 City Lending Centers (CLC)$150 - $1,600 10 - 35% 3 - 6
$150 - $1,600
1001686182400 Northstar Brokers$300 - $3,000 18% + fees 6
$300 - $3,000
1001686182400 Deposit My Cash Now$300 - $3,000 18% + fees 6
$300 - $3,000
1001686182400 My Next Pay$300 - $3,000 18% + fees 6
$300 - $3,000
61683676800 Windmill Microlending$15,000 6.7% Up to 60 months
$15,000
11670889600 Fora$1,000 - $10,000 19.9% - 46.9% -
$1,000 - $10,000
71666051200 Nyble$150 0% -
$150
1001643932800 FlexMoney$500 - $15,000 +18.9% APR 6 - 60
$500 - $15,000
1001642723200 Pay2Dayup to $1,500 - -
up to $1,500
131639094400 Loanz$1,000 - $15,000 29.9% - 46.9% APR   12 - 60
$1,000 - $15,000
301637280000 Symple Loans$5,000 - $50,000 5.75% - 22.99% Up to 84
$5,000 - $50,000
1001623369600 AfterpayVaries 0% 6 or 8 weeks
Varies
21620777600 Spring FinancialUp to $35,000 9.99% - 46.96% 6 - 60
Up to $35,000
171607558400 Helium Loans$500 - $50,000 6.99% - 46.99% 12 - 36
$500 - $50,000
1001600646400 Iceberg Finance$1,000-$7,500 12.99% - 29.99% 24 - 60
$1,000-$7,500
1001598918400 LM Financial$1,000 - $15,000 - -
$1,000 - $15,000
1001598832000 LM Credit$500 – $15,000 + 25.99% 9 - 60
$500 – $15,000
1001595980800 FlexiLoans$200 - $1,200 25% - 32% -
$200 - $1,200
1001551830400 Prudent Financial ServicesUp to $500,000 5.75% – 9.9% negotiable
Up to $500,000
1001594684800 Lendle$100 - $2,000 0% -
$100 - $2,000
1001593561600 PayBright- 0+ 2 - 60
-
1001589155200 Moves Financial$2,500 15.65% AIR 13 - 26
$2,500
1001582243200 LendCare- - Up to 60
-
1001581033600 X-bankers$5,000+ - Up to 60
$5,000+
1001580947200 ECN Capital- - -
-
1001580860800 SimplyBorrowed$500 - $5,000 - 12 - 24
$500 - $5,000
1001580860800 Pebble Cash$350 - $1,000 - 2 - 12 weeks
$350 - $1,000
91580860800 Refresh Financial$1,600 - $25,000 19.99% APR 36 - 60
$1,600 - $25,000
161580774400 goPeer$1,000 - $25,000 7.5% - 31.5% APR 36 - 60
$1,000 - $25,000
1001579478400 North’n Loans$100 - $1,500 - -
$100 - $1,500
1001579478400 MDGUp to $5,000 29.78% - 44.8% 36 months
Up to $5,000
1001579219200 Loan or Credit$100 - $25,000 +4.9% -
$100 - $25,000
1001579219200 Instant Payday Canada- 15% - 19% -
-
1001576713600 Flexiti Financial- Up to 35% -
-
181576713600 Financeit$500 - $100,000 6.99% - 14.99% 12 - 240
$500 - $100,000
1001575590400 Climb1800- 2900 15.99% 23 - 36
1800- 2900
1001562198400 Pylo Finance$500 - $15,000 15.99 - 39.99% 6 - 60
$500 - $15,000
1001560124800 Fresh Start FinanceUp to $15,000 29.99% - 46.96% 9 - 60
Up to $15,000
171545955200 MarbleUp to $20,000 18.99% - 24.99% 36 - 84
Up to $20,000
191552262400 Money Mart$1,000 - $15,000 29.9% or 46.90% 6 - 60
$1,000 - $15,000
1001551830400 Payday King$100 - $1,000 546% APR 14 days
$100 - $1,000
1001569974400 Private Loan Shop$500 - $50,000 15 - 30% -
$500 - $50,000
1001551830400 Progressa$1,000 - $15,000 19% - 46.95% 6 - 60
$1,000 - $15,000
1001551398400 My Canada PaydayUp to $1,500 15% - 19% 14 days
Up to $1,500
1001551398400 Mr. Payday$100 - $1,500 15% - 17% 14 -31 days
$100 - $1,500
1001551398400 Money Provider$500 - $1,000 28% - 32% -
$500 - $1,000
1001551398400 Loan Express- - 14 days
-
181546128000 Loan AwayUp to $5,000 19.9% - 45.9% APR 6 - 36
Up to $5,000
1001551139200 Loan & Go$250 -$1,250 29% 3 - 6
$250 -$1,250
1001551139200 Lendful$5,000 - $35,000 9.9%+ 6 - 60
$5,000 - $35,000
151551139200 LendDirectUp to $15,000 19.99% APR Open-end
Up to $15,000
1001550534400 Health Smart Financial Services$300 - $25,000 7.95%+ 36 - 60
$300 - $25,000
1001550534400 GoDay$100 - $1,500 - 14 days
$100 - $1,500
1001569974400 iCashUp to $1,500 15% - 23% -
Up to $1,500
1001550534400 Focus Financial Inc.Up to $1,500 Up to 59% APR 14 days
Up to $1,500
191550534400 FlexFi$2,500 + - -
$2,500 +
1001550534400 Eastern Loans$500 - $1,000 28% - 32% 3 -5
$500 - $1,000
1001550534400 DMO Credit$300 - $1,000 38% APR 3 - 4
$300 - $1,000
1001549411200 Capital Cash$100 - $1,000 546% APR 14 days
$100 - $1,000
1001549411200 Cash 4 You$1,000 -$15,000 46.93% 12 - 60
$1,000 -$15,000
1001567555200 Cash Depot$300 - $3,000 18% + fees 6
$300 - $3,000
1001549238400 Credit 700$500 - $1,000 28% - 32% 4 - 5
$500 - $1,000
1001549238400 Credit Club$100 - $1,500 90% - 390% APR 14 days
$100 - $1,500
1001549238400 Credit2Go$250 - $1,000 29% APR 3 - 4
$250 - $1,000
201548720000 Ledn$500 - $1,000,000 7.9% 12
$500 - $1,000,000
1001548720000 Amber Financial$1,000 - $50,000 4.6% – 49.96% 3 - 60
$1,000 - $50,000
1001548633600 Affirm Financial$300 - $7,500 29.9% - 39.9% 6 - 60
$300 - $7,500
1001548633600 310 Loan$50 - $1,500 - 14 days
$50 - $1,500
1001545955200 Newstart CanadaUp to $20,000 19% - 49% 36 - 48
Up to $20,000
161545264000 Ferratum$2,000 - $10,000 18.9% - 54.9% 12 - 60
$2,000 - $10,000
1001545264000 SkyCap Financial$500 - $10,000 12.99% – 39.99% 9 – 36
$500 - $10,000
1001545264000 Fast Access Financial$500 – $10,000 Starting at 9.90% 12 - 36
$500 – $10,000
21543622400 Fairstone FinancialUp to $50,000 19.99% - 39.99% 6 - 120
Up to $50,000
1001545177600 LendingMate$2,000 – $10,000 34.9% - 43% 12 - 60
$2,000 – $10,000
101545264000 Consumer Capital Canada$500 - $12,500 19.99%+ 12 - 60
$500 - $12,500
1001545350400 LaminaUp to $1000 30% 3 - 5
Up to $1000
1001545350400 Loans SOSUp to $5,000 60% 6 - 60
Up to $5,000
1001545350400 514 LoansUp to $3,000 22% - 35% 3 - 4
Up to $3,000
1001545350400 Cashco FinancialUp to $7,000 - 6 – 60
Up to $7,000
1001545350400 UrLoan$500 - $2,500 29% - 46.95% 6 - 36
$500 - $2,500
51545350400 LoanMeNow$500 - $1000+ 28%-32% 3
$500 - $1000+
1001545350400 Captain Cash$500 – $750 28% – 34.4% 3
$500 – $750
1001545350400 BC Loans$500 – $750 23% - 34.4% 3 – 12
$500 – $750
1001545350400 Urgent Loans$300 - $1500 27% - 35% 3 - 4
$300 - $1500
41545264000 easyfinancial$500 - $100,000 Starting at 29.99% 9 - 84
$500 - $100,000
31545264000 Mogo FinanceUp to $3,500 47.72% -
Up to $3,500
21568937600 Cash Money$1,500 – $10,000 Varies by province Varies
$1,500 – $10,000
101545177600 Borrowell$1,000 - $35,000 5.99% - 29.19% 36 - 60
$1,000 - $35,000
181545177600 Magical Credit$100 - $20,000 Up to 46.8% Up to 60
$100 - $20,000
ProviderLoan AmountRateTerm (Months)Rating
00 Up to $50,000Prime – 46.96%3 - 120
Up to $50,000
31697414400 SafeBorrowUp to $800,000 9% - 49.99% 3, 6, 9, or 12
Up to $800,000
21669852800 Driven$5,000 - $300,000 - 3 - 24 months
$5,000 - $300,000
1001648512000 2M7 Financial Solutions$10,000 - $250,000 Varies 6-12
$10,000 - $250,000
1001620345600 TD Bank- - 12 - 60
-
1001611878400 Accord Financial$5,000 - $30,000,000 - Up to 18
$5,000 - $30,000,000
171607558400 Helium Loans$500 - $50,000 6.99% - 46.99% 6 - 36
$500 - $50,000
1001603756800 Accelerated Payments- - -
-
1001598918400 Loop- - -
-
1001592438400 Core Capital Group Inc- - -
-
1001585612800 BarterPay- 0.9% - 12% 6 months - 5 years
-
1001581984000 Clearbanc$10,000 - $10,000,000 6% - 12.5% -
$10,000 - $10,000,000
1001581292800 SNAP Financial Group- - -
-
1001581033600 GE Capital- - -
-
1001581033600 We Can Financial- - -
-
1001581033600 Wajax Equipment- - -
-
1001580947200 Key Equipment Financing- - -
-
1001580947200 Corl$10,000 - $1,000,000 - -
$10,000 - $1,000,000
1001580860800 Yellowhead Equipment Finance Ltd- - -
-
1001580860800 Toronto Truck Loan Ltd- - -
-
1001580860800 Specialty Truck Financing- - -
-
1001580860800 Travelers Financial- - -
-
1001580860800 Peel Financial- - -
-
1001580860800 Pioneer Financial Services$5,000 - $1,000,000 - -
$5,000 - $1,000,000
1001580860800 Polaris Leasing- - -
-
1001580860800 Patron West- - -
-
1001580860800 Payabilityup to $250,000 - -
up to $250,000
1001580860800 Planet Financial- - -
-
1001580688000 RiseUp to $10,000 - -
Up to $10,000
1001580256000 Merchant Growth$5,000 - $500,000 - 6 - 18 months
$5,000 - $500,000
1001579478400 Onesta- - -
-
1001579478400 Lionhart Capital$10,000- $30,000,000 Min 4.95% -
$10,000- $30,000,000
1001579478400 Lift Capital- - 12 - 120
-
1001579478400 Leaseline- - 24 to 60
-
1001579478400 Lease Direct- - -
-
1001579478400 John Deere- - -
-
1001579046400 Hitachi Capital Canada- - -
-
1001578873600 Guardian Leasing- - -
-
1001577059200 Export Development Canada- - -
-
1001577059200 Essex Lease Financial Corporation- - -
-
1001577059200 Equilease- - -
-
1001575849600 Alliance Financing Group LTD$5,000 - $150,000 15% + 6 - 24
$5,000 - $150,000
1001575849600 CanaCapUp to $250,000 - -
Up to $250,000
1001575590400 CLE Capital- - -
-
1001575590400 Canada Equipment Loan- - -
-
11545955200 SharpShooter Funding$5,000 - $150,000 Fee-Based: Starting at 9% 12 - 60
$5,000 - $150,000
1001552262400 First West Credit Union$500,000 - $10,000,000 - -
$500,000 - $10,000,000
1001552262400 PACE Credit Union- Competitive -
-
1001552262400 DUCA Credit Union- - -
-
1001552262400 Laurentian Bank of CanadaUp to $250,000 - Up to 10 years
Up to $250,000
1001552262400 HSBC Bank Canada- - -
-
1001552262400 National BankUp to $1,000,000 - -
Up to $1,000,000
1001551830400 DesjardinsUp to $100,000 - -
Up to $100,000
1001551830400 Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)$10,000+ - Up to 15 years
$10,000+
1001551830400 ScotiabankUp to $1,000,000 -   Up to 15 years
Up to $1,000,000
1001551830400 Bank of Montreal (BMO)Up to $500,000 - Up to 10 years
Up to $500,000
1001551830400 Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)$5,000 - $10,000 - Up to 7 years
$5,000 - $10,000
1001551398400 CWB National Leasing$3,500+ - -
$3,500+
1001551398400 Money Line Capital$5,000+ 4.9% - 24.99% 18 - 48
$5,000+
1001551398400 Money in Motion$10,000 - $1,000,000 4% - 14% 12 - 84
$10,000 - $1,000,000
1001551139200 Lease LinkUp to $75,000 - Up to 18
Up to $75,000
1001550534400 FundThrough$500-$50,000 0.5% weekly 12 week cycles
$500-$50,000
1001550534400 Econolease Financial Services Inc.$1,000 - $1,000,000 6% - 20% -
$1,000 - $1,000,000
1001550534400 Easylease CorpUp to $5,000,000 4.5% 24 - 72
Up to $5,000,000
1001550534400 Capify$5,000 - $200,000 - -
$5,000 - $200,000
1001549411200 Canadian Equipment Finance$50,000 - $12,000,000 - 24 - 96
$50,000 - $12,000,000
1001549411200 Capital Key$5,000 - $1,000,000+ - 1 - 60
$5,000 - $1,000,000+
1001549238400 Cashbloom$5,000 - $1,000,000 - 3 - 24
$5,000 - $1,000,000
1001548720000 BFS Capital$5,000 - $5,000,000 - 4 - 18
$5,000 - $5,000,000
1001548720000 BDCUp to $100,000 6.05% + 60
Up to $100,000
1001548720000 Baron Finance$10,000+ 18% - 22% -
$10,000+
1001548720000 B2B Bank$10,000 - $300,000 4.70% - 5.45% -
$10,000 - $300,000
1001548633600 AOne Financial SolutionsUp to $5,000,000 5% - 10% 12 - 60
Up to $5,000,000
101545177600 Borrowell$1,000 - $35,000 5.6% – 25.5% 36 – 60
$1,000 - $35,000
1001545264000 iCapital$5,000 - $250,000 - 3-18
$5,000 - $250,000
1001545264000 Lendified$5,000 - $150,000 - 3 - 24
$5,000 - $150,000
61545350400 IOU Financial$5,000 – $100,000 15% + 12 – 18
$5,000 – $100,000
1001545264000 Company Capital$5,000 – $100,000 Starting at 6.87% 3 – 18
$5,000 – $100,000
51545177600 OnDeck$5,000-$250,000 8% - 29% APR 6 - 18
$5,000-$250,000
41545177600 Lending Loop$5,000 – $500,000 Starting at 5.9% 3 – 60
$5,000 – $500,000
1001545264000 SkyCap Financial$500 - $10,000 12.99% – 39.99% 9 – 36
$500 - $10,000
1001561507200 Thinking CapitalUp to $300,000 - -
Up to $300,000
ProviderLoan AmountRateTerm (Months)Rating
00 Up to $50,000Prime – 46.96%3 - 120
Up to $50,000
31679529600 ClutchVaries 8.49% + 24 - 96 months
Varies
1001643846400 Fix4 Capitalup to $10,000 19.99% 12 - 36
up to $10,000
41632960000 SafeLendUp to $50,000 15.99% + 12 -72
Up to $50,000
61624233600 Auto Credit DealsUp to $50,000 29.99% – 46.96% 12 - 96
Up to $50,000
1001610409600 Advantagewon- - -
-
171607558400 Helium Loans$500 - $50,000 - 24 - 60
$500 - $50,000
51606435200 Go To Loans$500 - $10,000 29.95%+ up to 48
$500 - $10,000
1001600646400 Iceberg Finance$1,000-$7,500 12.99% - 29.99% 12 - 84
$1,000-$7,500
1001594339200 Alphera Financial Services- - -
-
1001582761600 Go Auto- - 12 - 96
-
61582761600 Eden Park- 11.9% - 22.9% Up to 84
-
1001582761600 Auto Loan Solutions- 0% - 29.5% -
-
1001581033600 WeFinanceCars- + 4.9% -
-
1001581033600 Walker Financial Services- - -
-
1001580688000 Rifco- - -
-
1001579478400 National Powersports Financing- - -
-
1001579478400 LMG Finance- - -
-
1001579478400 Loans2Go- - -
-
1001579219200 Leisure Trailer Sales- - -
-
1001578873600 iA Auto Finance- +8.99% -
-
1001578873600 Gamache Group- - -
-
1001551830400 Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)$5,000 - $10,000 - up to 84
$5,000 - $10,000
1001552262400 Laurentian Bank of CanadaUp to $250,000 - 12 - 60
Up to $250,000
1001552262400 National BankUp to $1,000,000 - up to 96
Up to $1,000,000
1001551830400 DesjardinsUp to $100,000 - 6 - 96
Up to $100,000
1001551830400 Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)$10,000+ - 12 - 96
$10,000+
1001551830400 ScotiabankUp to $1,000,000 - up to 96
Up to $1,000,000
1001577059200 Daimler Truck Financial- - up to 72
-
1001577059200 DealerPlan Financial- - -
-
1001575849600 Coast Capital Savings- Starting at 4% Up to 84
-
1001575849600 Canada Auto Finance$5000 - $45,000 4.90 % - 29.95% APR 36 - 72
$5000 - $45,000
1001575849600 Credit River Capital Inc- - -
-
1001575590400 Capital Trust Financial- - -
-
1001575504000 Canada Car Loans- - -
-
21569974400 Car Loans Canada$7500 - $59,995 3.95% + 12 - 96
$7500 - $59,995
1001562112000 Car Creditex- Up to 49.9% -
-
1001561507200 Auto Capital Canada- - -
-
1001561507200 Carfinco- - Up to 84
-
11560124800 Canada DrivesUp to $100,000 3.99% - 19.9% 24 -96
Up to $100,000
1001551830400 Prefera FinanceUp to $30,000 - -
Up to $30,000
1001551830400 Prudent Financial ServicesUp to $500,000 5.75% – 9.9% negotiable
Up to $500,000
1001550534400 Dixie Auto Loans- - -
-
1001548720000 Approve Canada- - -
-
1001548633600 2nd Chance Automotive- 4.2%+ -
-
1001545955200 Newstart CanadaUp to $20,000 19% - 49% 36 - 48
Up to $20,000
1001545264000 SkyCap Financial$500 - $10,000 12.99% – 39.99% 9 – 36
$500 - $10,000
1001545177600 Splash Auto Finance by RifcoUp to $50,000 - -
Up to $50,000
1001545177600 Carloans411$5,000 – $40,000 - 12 – 72
$5,000 – $40,000
1001545177600 AutoArriba- - Maximum 84
-
ProviderLoan AmountRateTerm (Months)Rating
00 Up to $50,000Prime – 46.96%3 - 120
Up to $50,000
1001578873600 Instant Loans Canada$1,000 - $35,000 - 24 - 60
$1,000 - $35,000
1001545955200 Newstart CanadaUp to $20,000 19% - 49% 36 - 48
Up to $20,000
1001545264000 BHM FinancialUp to $25,000 - 12 - 60
Up to $25,000
ProviderLoan AmountRateTerm (Months)Rating
00 N/AN/AN/A
N/A
71708473600 Blue Pearl MortgageVaries Varies 1 - 10 years
Varies
51700524800 Rocket Mortgage- - -
-
61696377600 Mortgage Maestro- 5.69% + -
-
1001695945600 Mortgage Intelligence- - -
-
1001695772800 QuestMortgage- - -
-
41690934400 Neo MortgageVaries 5.54%+ Varies
Varies
21688601600 nestoMin $100,000 5.34%+ 2 - 10 years
Min $100,000
31679616000 Frank Mortgage$100,000 - $2 million Fixed, variable, or adjustable rates 1 - 5 years
$100,000 - $2 million
41541030400 Meridian Credit Union- Varies 6 months - 5 years
-
1001627344000 Peoples Bank- 1.94% - 2.45% 12 - 60
-
21620777600 Spring FinancialUp to $35,000 - -
Up to $35,000
1001551830400 Prudent Financial ServicesUp to $500,000 5.75% – 9.9% negotiable
Up to $500,000
1001581033600 Mortgage Alliance- 2.74% - 6.30% 12 - 120
-
1001580947200 Paradigm- - -
-
1001580860800 Verico- - -
-
1001580860800 True North Mortgage- 2.64% - 4.45% 12 - 120
-
1001580860800 Tangerine$50,000+ 2.74% - 3.49% 12- 120
$50,000+
1001580860800 Think Financial- - 36 - 60
-
1001580860800 Turnedaway- - -
-
1001580860800 REICO- - -
-
1001580688000 Motusbank- 2.79% - 6.00% 6 - 60
-
1001580688000 Northwood Mortgage- 2.74% - 4.45% 12 - 120
-
1001580688000 Matrix Mortgage Global- - -
-
1001579478400 Mortgage Architects- 2.74% - 3.70% 6 - 120
-
1001579132800 Finser Mortgages- 2.79% - 4.45% -
-
1001578873600 IntelliMortgage- - -
-
1001578873600 Invis- 2.69% - 3.95% 6 - 120
-
1001578268800 Manzilup to 4,000,000 3.49% - 5.49% 12 - 300
up to 4,000,000
1001577059200 Equitable Bank$25,000 - $800,000 4.59% - 5.64% 6 - 60
$25,000 - $800,000
1001577059200 Dominion Lending Center- - -
-
1001577059200 Fisgard Asset Management- -- -
-
1001577059200 First National Financial LP- 2.84% - 7.30% -
-
1001574985600 CMLS Financials$100,000 - $750,000 - 12 - 120
$100,000 - $750,000
1001574899200 CHIP Reverse Mortgagemin 25,000 3.89.% - 4.84% 12 - 60
min 25,000
1001574899200 CanWise- 2.23% - 4.45% -
-
1001560124800 Centum- 2.89% - 3.79% -
-
1001548806400 Capital Direct$10,000 - $1,500,000 Varies 12 - 24
$10,000 - $1,500,000
1001548720000 Broker Financial Group Inc.- 2.41% - 3.84% -
-
1001548720000 Bridgewater Bank- - -
-
11517097600 Alpine Credits$10,000+ Based on equity -
$10,000+
ProviderServicesRating
00 Debt Consolidation Program, Debt Settlement Program, Consumer Proposal, Bankruptcy Consultation
N/A (Referrer)
1001576540800 BDO Credit Counselling, Bankruptcy, Consumer Proposal
1001576540800 Raymond Chabot Bankruptcy, Consumer Proposal
1001576540800 Full Circle Debt Solutions Inc Credit Counselling, Debt Management Program
1001576368000 Consolidated Credit Credit Counselling, Debt Management Program
1001576454400 4Pillars Debt Restructuring, After Care - Credit Rebuilding Program, Corporate Debt Restructuring

Mortgages are useful tools that make it financially possible for consumers to purchase a home. And when it comes to homes in Toronto, any financial help homebuyers can get is certainly welcomed.

Read on to find out all you need to know about mortgages in Toronto.

Mortgage Insurance Rules

If you plan to make a down payment of less than 20% of the purchase price of the home you’re buying, then you’ll be subject to paying mortgage insurance. Also referred to as “CMHC insurance,” this type of insurance is designed to protect the lender – not the borrower – despite the fact that borrowers are the ones paying the premiums.

In Toronto – and Canada as a whole – the maximum amortization period for mortgages that are insured is 25 years.

How to Save for a Down Payment in Toronto

Whether you’re looking to put down at least 20% to avoid paying mortgage insurance or are simply looking to put down the 5% minimum that conventional mortgages require, you’ll still need to come up with a sizeable amount of money. Based on the average home price in Toronto, which stands at $765,400 as of November 2018, a 5% down payment would amount to $38,270.

That’s a lot of money for the average person in Toronto to have to come up within as a lump sum of cash, but that’s the reality of buying a home in one of the most expensive markets in the country.

Obviously, putting a 20% down payment is better, if you can swing it. Not only will you be able to reduce the amount of debt that you’d have to borrow, but you’ll also be able to save quite a bit of money on mortgage insurance that would otherwise have to be paid with a down payment of less than 20%.

Need to borrow money for your down payment? Check this out.

In order to secure a mortgage in Toronto, you will need to spend some time saving up for a down payment. Here are a few tips to help you accumulate such a large sum of money in order to get approved for a mortgage and make a home purchase:

Take a bit of money out of each paycheck – Toronto may have the second highest minimum wage in Toronto, but saving up becomes difficult due to its high cost of living. So, before you go and start spending your paycheck, set a little bit aside to be deposited into a separate “down payment savings” account.

Automate your savings – Piggybacking off the above tip, rather than manually taking out a certain amount of money from your paycheck, consider automating your savings instead. That way you won’t be tempted to use that money for other expenditures. Plus, there will be no excuses for forgetting.

Make small sacrifices – Think of things that you can sacrifice for a little while to help with your down payment savings efforts. For example, if you’ve made it a habit of buying lunch every day, consider taking your own lunch with you – you’d be amazed at how much eating out in Toronto costs.

Plan any shopping splurges – Instead of randomly splurging, consider planning them instead. If you try to restrict yourself a lot when attempting to save, you can easily convince yourself that you deserve a treat once in a while. But this can blow your budget and move your goal further out. Instead, if you plan for that splurge money, you’ll know precisely how much you have to spend on frivolous things and keep more control of your spending.

Cost of Buying a House in CanadaTake a look at this infographic to learn about the cost of buying a house.

Credit Score Required For a Mortgage in Toronto

Mortgages in Toronto require a certain credit score in order for borrowers to get approved. In Toronto, borrowers are required to have a credit score of at least 650 to 680 in order to secure a conventional mortgage, though every lender in Toronto might have their own specific criteria.

Toronto borrowers with higher credit scores typically have a sound financial past that is void of any black marks, such as missed payments. As such, they will be more likely to be responsible and capable enough to make mortgage payments on time and in full every month.

On the other hand, a person in Toronto with a low credit score typically means they’ve had a history of bad financial habits, making them more of a risk for lenders. In this case, the odds of mortgage approval are much lower. If a mortgage is approved, the interest rate provided will likely be much higher than that of a mortgage provided to a borrower with a higher credit score.

Alternative Mortgage Options For Bad Credit Consumers in Toronto

What can you do if you don’t meet the credit criteria that lenders in Toronto require for mortgage approval? Are your dreams of homeownership dashed? Not necessarily. There are some other options that you may want to explore when applying for a mortgage in Toronto with a bad credit score.

Get a cosigner – If you have someone in your life who has good credit and whom you trust, consider adding them to your mortgage contract as a cosigner. This is a big responsibility, so the person cosigning needs to be fully aware of what their role is and what the repercussions may be if you default on the mortgage. A cosigner essentially promises to pick up the slack and continue making your payments for you in the event that you fail to make your payments.

Take out a bridge loan – Bridge loans are useful tools that you can use if you find it difficult to get a mortgage in Toronto because of your bad credit score. They are provided by private lenders and offer short-term solutions to those looking to make use of the borrowing potential of their homes. Bridge loans are designed to improve your credit and help you get approved for a mortgage and a lower interest rate.

Wait and improve your credit score – If you have some time to spare and are not necessarily in a rush to buy a home, consider taking some time to improve your credit score. You can do this by:

  • Ensuring your debt payments are made on time
  • Not applying for too many credit accounts at once
  • Utilizing less than 30% of your credit card limit
  • Paying down your debt
  • Keeping old credit accounts open, even if you’re not using them

Canadian Credit ScoreInterested in more information about your credit score? Check this infographic out.

Hidden Costs of Buying a House in Toronto

Buying a home in Toronto involves a lot more than just taking out a loan to cover the purchase price of the property. There are other hidden costs that all homebuyers should be made aware of before taking the plunge:

  • Down payment
  • Interest
  • Title insurance
  • Home insurance
  • Taxes
  • Home inspection
  • repaid utilities
  • Moving costs
  • New furniture and appliances
  • Real estate commissions
  • Renovations

It’s important to make sure that you account for all of these costs before you commit to a real estate transaction.

Read this for more details about these hidden home buying costs.

Getting Pre-Approved For a Mortgage in Toronto

If you’re thinking about buying a house in Toronto soon, you should consider getting pre-approved for a mortgage first. A mortgage pre-approval is somewhat like a promise letter from the lender stating that you may qualify for a mortgage for a specific loan amount based on the information you provided, including proof of income and your credit history.

A pre-approval typically specifies a term, interest rate and loan amount. It’s a good idea to get pre-approved before looking for a home because it will tell you how much you can afford. This will help you narrow your focus to properties that match your criteria in terms of price. A pre-approval will also make you a more competitive buyer in the eyes of sellers, which can come in especially handy in a fiercely competitive market.

Pre-approvals don’t last forever. Instead, they usually expire within 90 to 120 days, after which the borrower will have to get pre-approved all over again.

Should you spend your entire pre-approval amount when buying a home? Find out here.

How to Compare Different Mortgage Offers in Toronto

It’s always recommended to shop around for a mortgage and compare different products from different lenders to get the best deal. When you do, it’s important to pay attention to certain components of various mortgage products that may be offered to you, including:

  • Term – The time period that the mortgage contract is valid
  • Amortization period – The time frame where the entire loan amount must be repaid in full
  • Variable vs. fixed rates – Different mortgages come with different types of interest rates
  • Prepayment options – Some mortgage products may allow you to prepay without penalty
  • Early payment penalties – If you choose to pay off your mortgage early, find out what the early payment penalties may be if any

Amortization Periods

An amortization period is the length of time that you have to pay off your entire loan amount in full. The amortization period you go with will depend on what you feel most comfortable with and what your lender will offer you.

Shorter amortization periods will allow you to spend less on interest over the long haul and will allow you to pay off your mortgage sooner. However, the monthly payments are usually higher, making them more expensive over the short-term.

Longer amortization periods, on the other hand, cost less per payment, but they end up costing more over the long run because more interest will have to be paid. In addition, it will take longer to be mortgage-free with a longer amortization period.

What’s the difference between a mortgage term and a mortgage amortization? Find out here.

Mortgage Payment Options

Different payment options are typically available with mortgages Toronto, including the following:

  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Bi-weekly
  • Accelerated bi-weekly

Types of Mortgages Available in Toronto

There are several different mortgage types in Toronto that you can choose from, including the following:

  • Conventional mortgages. These require a 20% minimum down payment, which will allow you to avoid having to pay mortgage default insurance.
  • High-ratio mortgages. Conventional mortgages with less than a 20% down payment (but no less than 5%) are known as high-ratio mortgages and will require mortgage default insurance to be paid.
  • Open mortgages. These home loans allow borrowers to repay the mortgage at any time without penalty.
  • Closed mortgages. These cannot be paid off before their maturity date without penalty, though their interest rates are usually lower than those with open mortgages.
  • Fixed-rate mortgages. The interest rates associated with fixed-rate mortgages will not change throughout the term, making the payments more predictable.
  • Variable-rate mortgages. The interest rates associated with variable-rate mortgages can change at different intervals throughout the term, making the payments more unpredictable.

Get the Best Mortgage Product For Your Financial Situation

There are all sorts of different mortgage products and lenders in Toronto, and the one you choose should closely match your particular needs. If you’re in the market to find and apply for a mortgage in Toronto, Loans Canada can help match you with a licensed mortgage professional.

Note: Loans Canada does not arrange, underwrite or broker mortgages. We are a simple referral service.

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