Mortgages Victoria, British Columbia

The Canadian Mortgage Stress Test in 2024

📅 Last Updated: November 26, 2021

✏️ Written By Lisa Rennie

🕵️ Fact-Checked by Caitlin Wood

Table of Contents show

Mortgages Victoria - Compare Providers

		Loan Amount	Rate	Term (Months)	Rating
0	0	Up to $50,000	Prime – 46.96%	3 - 120	Up to $50,000
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
11	1692748800	Up to $250	0%	Up to 61 days	Up to $250
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 - $10,000	19.9% - 46.9%	-	$1,000 - $10,000
7	1666051200	$150	0%	-	$150
100	1643932800	$500 - $15,000	+18.9% APR	6 - 60	$500 - $15,000
100	1642723200	up to $1,500	-	-	up to $1,500
13	1639094400	$1,000 - $15,000	29.9% - 46.9% APR	12 - 60	$1,000 - $15,000
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
9	1580860800	$1,600 - $25,000	19.99% APR	36 - 60	$1,600 - $25,000
16	1580774400	$1,000 - $25,000	7.5% - 31.5% APR	36 - 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
17	1545955200	Up to $20,000	18.99% - 24.99%	36 - 84	Up to $20,000
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	19.99% 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	15% - 17%	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 $50,000	19.99% - 39.99%	6 - 120	Up to $50,000
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	-	6 – 60	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 $3,500	47.72%	-	Up to $3,500
2	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	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-$250,000	8% - 29% APR	6 - 18	$5,000-$250,000
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
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	-
2	1620777600	Up to $35,000	-	-	Up to $35,000
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

Out of all purchases a consumer makes, buying a home is perhaps the largest. And with prices as high as they are in Victoria these days, a mortgage is typically necessary to make this purchase possible.

In Victoria, the median home price is expected to hit the $465,000 mark in 2019. That’s a lot of money to have to come up with in liquid cash in order to buy a house. That’s why mortgages are so handy and make homeownership a possibility for consumers in Victoria and Canadians all across the country

Getting approved for a mortgage is something that all consumers wishing to purchase a home must think about. There are specific criteria that must be met in order to secure a mortgage and buy property in Victoria.

Read on to find out all about mortgages in Victoria.

Types of Mortgages in Victoria

There are several different types of mortgages that are designed to suit the different needs of Victoria homebuyers. Here are some of the more popular mortgage products available.

Conventional mortgages – These traditional mortgages require at least a 20% down payment in order to be eligible. With a 20% down payment, you can avoid paying mortgage default insurance that would be needed with a smaller down payment amount.

To learn the difference between a conventional and collateral mortgage, read this.

Mortgage default insurance is meant to protect lenders in case borrowers default on their mortgage payments.

High-ratio mortgages – If you are unable to come up with a 20% down payment, you may be eligible for a high-ratio mortgage, which means you would need to borrow more than 80% of the purchase price of the home. These mortgages allow as little as 5% down, though the exact amount that the lender will require will depend on the credit strength and income of the borrower.

This loan option will require mortgage default insurance premiums in order to protect the lender from the added risk of supplying a larger loan amount relative to the value of the property.

Fixed-rate mortgages – All mortgages come with a certain interest rate that is charged to borrowers. This rate is how lenders in Victoria and Canada, in general, make a profit off the loans they provide. With a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rate remains the same throughout the term of the loan. Many borrowers in Victoria like this arrangement because payments will remain the same every month, which provides more predictability and makes budgeting easier for them.

Adjustable-rate mortgages – Some borrowers in Victoria opt for adjustable-rate mortgages because they typically come with lower rates during their initial introductory period compared to fixed-rate mortgages. However, the rate can fluctuate based on the posted rate, which means payment amounts can also change.

After the introductory period ends, the rate could increase and be even higher than that of a locked-in fixed-rate mortgage. For this reason, adjustable-rate mortgages are better suited for those with an appetite for risk as well as those who will likely sell their home in the near future before the introductory period on their mortgage ends.

Click this link if you’d like to know more about fixed or variable rate mortgages.

Second mortgages – Also referred to as a home equity loan or line of credit, second mortgages are taken out against a home’s equity. The money can then be used for other purposes, such as home improvement projects.

Bridge loans – Canadians with a poor credit profile may be eligible for a bridge loan. This short-term solution allows borrowers to use the equity in their home while taking steps to improve their credit scores.

Interested in the cost of buying a house in another major Canadian city? Click here.

Getting Pre-Approved For a Mortgage in Victoria

Before you start actively searching for a home and even putting in an offer on a property in Victoria, it’s suggested that you get pre-approved first. There are several advantages of getting pre-approved for a mortgage.

For starters, it will help you find out exactly how much you will be able to afford. After supplying your lender with all the pertinent information about your credit and income, you’ll be given an amount that you may be eligible to get approval for. With this number in mind, you’ll be able to focus only on homes that match your price range and won’t waste your time looking at homes you can’t afford.

Another great reason to get pre-approved is to be a more competitive buyer in the eyes of a seller. This is especially helpful and important if you’re in the middle of a strong seller’s market where competition among buyers is fierce. If you go into an offer with a pre-approval letter in hand, sellers will look more favourably upon you because it shows that you are serious about buying and are financially capable of getting a mortgage.

Finally, getting pre-approved will help move the process of final mortgage approval along faster after you’ve found a home and an offer is accepted. Just keep in mind that pre-approvals typically expire after 90 to 120 days. If you allow that time to elapse before finding a home, you will likely need to get pre-approved all over again.

Read this if you’re not sure whether to spend your entire pre-approval amount when buying a home.

Payment Options For Mortgages in Victoria

Like most other types of loans, mortgages are usually paid back in monthly installments. That said, there are other payment plans that may be negotiated with your lender in addition to monthly payments, including the following:

Semi-monthly – Payments are made every two weeks, with each payment being exactly one-half of what a monthly payment would be.
Accelerated bi-weekly – Payments are made every two weeks, with a total of 26 payments over the year. As such, two extra payments are made compared to semi-monthly, which puts more money toward the principal and allows the mortgage to be paid off a little faster.
Weekly – Payments are made once per week.

For more details about these mortgage payment options, click this link.

Amortization Periods For Mortgages in Victoria

The amortization of mortgages in Victoria refers to the amount of time that you have to fully repay your mortgage. The most popular amortization period among borrowers tends to be 25 years, although you may choose other amortization periods, including 10, 15, or 20 years.

The choice between a longer versus a shorter amortization period depends on your financial situation and needs, as there are pros and cons to each.

Short amortization periods – The benefit to a shorter amortization period is that you’ll be able to pay off your mortgage much faster. In addition, less money will be paid toward the interest portion, making this a more affordable option. However, since you have to pay the mortgage back sooner, the payment amounts will be much larger compared to longer amortization periods.

Long amortization periods – If you choose to extend your amortization period, you’ll have the benefit of smaller monthly payments, making this type of mortgage easier to fit into your budget. However, more money will be paid toward interest. Further, it will take you longer to pay off your home loan with a longer amortization period.

Not sure how long you should amortize your mortgage for? Read this to know.

Credit Score Requirements in Victoria

Your credit score plays a crucial role in your eligibility for a mortgage. Higher credit scores will ensure better odds of mortgage approval. Not only that, but a higher score will also increase the odds of a lower interest rate, making the mortgage more affordable.

Lower scores, on the other hand, present a risk for lenders. As such, they may either offer high-interest rates to offset this risk or may reject a mortgage application entirely.

Click here for more details about the minimum credit score for mortgage approval in 2019.

What Credit Score Is Needed To Get a Mortgage In Victoria?

Credit scores range from 300 to 900. The closer you can get to 900, the better your credit score will be and the stronger your ability to secure a home loan.

To get approved for a conventional high-ratio mortgage, you’ll need a score of at least 650 to 680. Any lower than this will make mortgage approval from a conventional lender much more difficult.

Having said that, you may be able to get approved for a mortgage with a lower credit score if you seek out a mortgage from an alternative lender who deals exclusively with bad credit borrowers. It should be noted, however, that these mortgages will almost undoubtedly come with higher interest rates.

Check out this infographic to learn more about what affects your credit score.

What if You Have Bad Credit?

As already mentioned, having a high credit score will help increase the odds that you’ll get approved for a mortgage. But if your score is low, there are still ways to get around it. Here are some of your options when applying for a mortgage with a bad credit score.

Get a co-signer – If a family member who you trust has a strong credit profile, ask them if they’d be willing to co-sign the loan with you. It’s important that they understand that they will be liable to take over the mortgage payments if you ever default. As such, make sure that you’re financially capable of paying the mortgage in order to avoid putting your family member in this predicament.

Apply with a bad credit lender – As mentioned earlier, there are lenders available who work with borrowers with bad credit. These lenders will focus more on your income and down payment amount rather than your credit score. They’ll want to see that you’re financially capable of handling mortgage payments. Just be aware that the interest rates associated with these mortgage lenders will be much higher than with conventional lenders.

Here’s what bad credit lenders look at when assessing loan eligibility.

Improve your credit score – If you have some time to spare before heading out in search of a home, consider taking steps to improve your credit score. You can do this by paying your credit card on time every month, keeping your credit card spending to less than 30% of your credit limit, and avoiding new loan applications.

Comparing Different Mortgages in Victoria

While there are several types of mortgages available, there are also different components of mortgages as well. As such, you’ll want to look at all aspects of different mortgage products and compare them in order to decide which mortgage and lender will offer you the best terms. Here are some of the details you should be looking at:

Interest rate
Term
Amortization period
Prepayment options
Early repayment penalty fees
Underwriting fees
Appraisal fees

Working with a mortgage broker will help take all this work off your plate, as they will do all of the comparison shopping for you and present you with your options.

Refinancing your mortgage? Look at our appraisal checklist.

Tips to Save Up For a Down Payment

Saving up for a down payment is no small feat. Even if you only put down 5% towards the purchase price, that can still add up to a lot. Based on the average home price in Victoria, a 5% down payment would amount to $23,250. In order to save up for a down payment, consider adopting the following habits:

Keep separate savings account for your down payment
Automate your savings so they’re automatically withdrawn from your account and deposited into a separate savings account
Pay off all high-interest debt, such as credit cards
Consolidate your debt
Cut back on spending
Borrow against your RRSPs
Take monetary gifts from your family

Planning to borrow money for your down payment? Read this beforehand.

Need a Mortgage in Victoria?

If buying a house is something you’re looking to achieve in 2019, you’ll want to start thinking about applying for a mortgage in Victoria. Considering all your options, you’ll want to spend some time thinking about which mortgage product is best for you and which lender to work with.

To make things easier for you, call Loans Canada to help. We’ll put you in touch with the right lender who can offer you the type of mortgage in Victoria that you’re looking for.

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