Mortgages Ontario

📅 Last Updated: May 31, 2024

✏️ Written By Lisa Rennie

🕵️ Fact-Checked by Caitlin Wood

Table of Contents show

Mortgages Ontario - Compare Providers

		Loan Amount	Rate	Term (Months)	Rating
0	0	Up to $50,000	Prime – 46.96%	3 - 120	Up to $50,000
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
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%	9 - 78	Up to $35,000
17	1607558400	$500 - $50,000	6.99% - 46.99%	12 - 36	$500 - $50,000
100	1600646400	$1,000-$7,500	12.99% - 29.99%	24 - 60	$1,000-$7,500
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	1551830400	Up to $500,000	5.75% – 9.9%	negotiable	Up to $500,000
100	1594684800	$100 - $2,000	0%	-	$100 - $2,000
100	1593561600	-	0+	2 - 60	-
100	1589155200	$2,500	15.65% AIR	13 - 26	$2,500
100	1582243200	-	-	Up to 60	-
100	1581033600	$5,000+	-	Up to 60	$5,000+
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	7.5% - 31.5% APR	36 - 60	$1,000 - $25,000
100	1579478400	$100 - $1,500	-	-	$100 - $1,500
100	1579478400	Up to $5,000	29.78% - 44.8%	36 months	Up to $5,000
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	1551830400	$100 - $1,000	546% APR	14 days	$100 - $1,000
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	$250 -$1,250	29%	3 - 6	$250 -$1,250
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	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	1549411200	$1,000 -$15,000	46.93%	12 - 60	$1,000 -$15,000
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
100	1545264000	$500 – $10,000	Starting at 9.90%	12 - 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	-	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 $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

		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	1603756800	-	-	-	-
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	-	-	-	-
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	-	Competitive	-	-
100	1552262400	-	-	-	-
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	Up to $100,000	-	-	Up to $100,000
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	$5,000+	4.9% - 24.99%	18 - 48	$5,000+
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	$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
2	1679529600	Varies	8.49% +	24 - 96 months	Varies
100	1643846400	up to $10,000	19.99%	12 - 36	up to $10,000
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
100	1610409600	-	-	-	-
17	1607558400	$500 - $50,000	-	24 - 60	$500 - $50,000
7	1606435200	$500 - $10,000	starting at 0%	3 - 48	$500 - $10,000
100	1600646400	$1,000-$7,500	12.99% - 29.99%	12 - 84	$1,000-$7,500
100	1594339200	-	-	-	-
100	1582761600	-	-	12 - 96	-
6	1582761600	-	11.9% - 22.9%	Up to 84	-
100	1582761600	-	0% - 29.5%	-	-
100	1581033600	-	+ 4.9%	-	-
100	1581033600	-	-	-	-
100	1580688000	-	-	-	-
100	1579478400	-	-	-	-
100	1579478400	-	-	-	-
100	1579478400	-	-	-	-
100	1579219200	-	-	-	-
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	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	1551830400	Up to $500,000	5.75% – 9.9%	negotiable	Up to $500,000
100	1550534400	-	-	-	-
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
4	1541030400	-	Varies	6 months - 5 years	-
100	1627344000	-	1.94% - 2.45%	12 - 60	-
2	1620777600	Up to $35,000	-	-	Up to $35,000
100	1551830400	Up to $500,000	5.75% – 9.9%	negotiable	Up to $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	1580688000	-	2.74% - 4.45%	12 - 120	-
100	1580688000	-	-	-	-
100	1579478400	-	2.74% - 3.70%	6 - 120	-
100	1579132800	-	2.79% - 4.45%	-	-
100	1578873600	-	-	-	-
100	1578873600	-	2.69% - 3.95%	6 - 120	-
100	1578268800	up to 4,000,000	3.49% - 5.49%	12 - 300	up to 4,000,000
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	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

Unless you have a few hundred thousand dollars in cash, you’ll likely need to take out a mortgage in order to finance a home purchase in Ontario. Buying a home is a big deal and it’s a huge financial investment that requires a great deal of money. Mortgages can help make your dreams of buying a home in Ontario a reality.

Here is everything you need to know about mortgages in Ontario before applying for one.

Looking for a regular loan in Ontario? Read this first.

Amortization Period For Mortgages in Ontario

When you take out a mortgage in Ontario, you have a certain amount of time to pay off the loan amount in full. No matter how much you borrow, it will all need to be paid back in the allotted time given from the onset of the agreement. In Ontario, the most common amortization period is 25 years, though amortization periods can be shorter (10, 15, or 20 years), or even longer in some circumstances where lenders allow for it.

Wondering how long you should amortize your mortgage for? Get a better idea here.

Your decision to choose between a shorter versus longer amortization period depends on a few things. If you want to pay off your mortgage in a shorter period of time, then a shorter amortization period is ideal. Besides, it will cost you less in the long run because you’ll be paying less toward interest. However, shorter amortization periods require higher monthly payments in order to pay the mortgage off in an accelerated amount of time.

Longer amortization periods are attractive because they require smaller loan payments. This makes homeownership more attainable for those in Ontario who don’t have the financial means to make large monthly contributions. That said, longer amortization periods mean it will take longer to pay off the home loan and they are also more expensive in the long run because more money will be going toward the interest portion.

Take a look at this infographic to learn about the cost of buying a house all across the country.

Different Types of Mortgages in Ontario

In Ontario, you’ll have the option to choose between various types of mortgage products available, including the following:

Fixed-rate mortgages – Interest rates play a key role in mortgages and determine how expensive or affordable they are. Obviously, the higher the interest rate, the more expensive the mortgage will be, and vice versa. Fixed-rate mortgages are those which maintain a constant interest rate throughout the term of the mortgage. As such, the payments never change.

Want to know how lenders set their interest rates and if you can beat them? Try reading this.

Many buyers in Ontario choose this option because it provides for more stable and predictable monthly mortgage payments. They’re also attractive if rates are expected to increase. If that’s the case, locking in at a lower rate may be a good option.

Adjustable-rate mortgages – In contrast to fixed-rate mortgages, adjustable-rate mortgages feature interest rates that change at specific intervals, either up or down. Usually, these types of mortgages offer lower interest rates than fixed-rate mortgages, but only for a specific period of time. Once the initial period expires, the rate will usually go up and the amount that it increases will depend on the posted rate from the Bank of Canada.

That said, many buyers in Ontario like the idea of a lower interest rate, even though it may only be for a temporary amount of time. And if rates are anticipated to decrease, this option is even more attractive.

Want to apply for a fixed or adjustable mortgage? Click here when you’re ready.

Conventional mortgages – These mortgages require a minimum of 20% down.

High-ratio mortgages – These are conventional mortgages that allow less than 20% as a down payment, but a minimum of 5%.

Bridge loans – These types of loans allow bad credit borrowers in Ontario to take advantage of short-term financial solutions. Borrowers can borrow against the equity in their home to give their credit scores a boost.

Read this for more information about bridge loans and short-term mortgage financing.

Second mortgages – Also known as a home equity line of credit (HELOC), second mortgages are taken out against a property that already has a mortgage on it. By borrowing against the home, borrowers in Ontario can free up some capital needed for other expenses.

What is a power of sale mortgage? Find out here.

Getting Pre-Approved

The mortgage process starts off with filling out an application and submitting a number of financial documents to your lender in Ontario. While this can happen after an offer has been accepted on a home, it can also begin long before the search for a home has begun. In fact, it’s highly recommended for buyers to get pre-approved for a mortgage first before the house hunting process has started, there are a few reasons why.

You’ll know how much you can afford – Most buyers in Ontario think they know how much they can afford, but many of them are unrealistic about the actual amount of money they can get approved for. By getting pre-approved, buyers can find out exactly how much they can afford and therefore focus only on properties that fall within their price range.

What is a mortgage helper and how can it help you afford a house? Find out here.

You’ll stand out to sellers – If the competition among buyers is fierce, you’ll want to do everything you can to stand out to sellers, in a good way. And one thing you can do is go into an offer with a pre-approval letter in hand. This will show sellers that you are serious about buying and have taken the steps needed to move the process along. It will also reassure sellers that you can afford to buy the home and stand a better chance of securing financing.

You’ll speed up the mortgage approval process – A pre-approval is not the same as a final approval, but it can still help to move the process along. Since you’ve already submitted most of the paperwork required (as long as things haven’t changed in your financial world), the lender will be able to speed up the final approval.

Want to know how your credit score is calculated? Check out this infographic.

Credit Score Needed to Get Approved For a Mortgage in Ontario

Lenders look at several factors before determining whether or not to approve a borrower for a mortgage in Ontario and one of them is credit scores. A credit score provides some insight into how financially responsible borrowers may be and reflects a borrower’s past financial habits.

Many things impact credit scores, but perhaps the most important is payment history. If you have a history of making timely debt payments, your credit score will be affected positively. On the other hand, if you have a history of missed payments, your score will reflect poorly.

Look at this for some tips about missing mortgage payments and foreclosures.

In Ontario, the minimum credit score needed to secure a conventional mortgage from a traditional lender is 680, though this number may fluctuate slightly from one lender to the next and will also depend on other factors such as your income and down payment amount. That said, a higher credit score will increase your chances of getting approved for a mortgage in Ontario, while a low credit score will reduce the odds of mortgage approval.

Mortgages For Borrowers in Ontario With Bad Credit

If you have bad credit and are finding it difficult to secure a traditional mortgage in Ontario, there may be some things you can do to get the home loan you need.

Get a co-signer – Maybe your credit history isn’t good enough to convince a lender to approve your mortgage application, but someone else’s might be. If you know someone trustworthy who has good credit and is responsible with their finances, they may be willing to cosign a mortgage for you. There is a lot of responsibility that comes with being a cosigner, as this person will be obligated to step in and make your mortgage payments for you if you default. But it can be a great way to secure a mortgage if you can’t do it alone

Want to learn about the other types of loans you can get with a cosigner? Read this.

Find a bad credit lender – Although your bank might not approve your mortgage application, there are other alternative lenders in Ontario who can. Many lenders in Ontario deal specifically with bad credit borrowers and place more weight on other things that affect your ability to secure a mortgage, such as your income and down payment amount.

If you are able to show that you make an adequate income, have a lot of money saved up for a down payment, and have recently made positive changes to your credit, alternative lenders may agree to extend a mortgage to you.

It should be noted, however, that these loans typically come with higher interest rates than conventional mortgages. Plus, you’ll need to ensure that you are working with a reputable lender, as some alternative lenders in this sphere in Ontario may be out to scam unsuspecting borrowers.

Interested in applying for a bad credit loan in Ontario? Try this.

Work on your credit score – Just because your credit score might be low right now doesn’t mean it has to be down forever. There are things you can do right now to give your credit score a boost and make things easier for you to get approved for a mortgage in the future:

Pay all bill payments on time and in full
Make sure credit accounts are fully paid off before closing them
Keep old credit lines open
Don’t apply for too many loans within a short time frame
Don’t spend any more than 30% of your credit limit on your credit cards

Within a few months of taking these steps and being diligent about improving your credit score, you should see a difference.

Comparing Mortgages in Ontario

Many buyers in Ontario settle for whatever their bank offers them, but it’s usually recommended to shop around for mortgages in Ontario to make sure you’re getting one with the most affordable terms. When comparing mortgages from different lenders, assess the following factors:

Interest rate
Term
Amortization periods
Buy-down points
Early repayment penalties
Pre-payment options
Payment schedules
Fees

Comparing each of these factors against the other can help you make a sound decision about which mortgage product is best for you.

Wondering why different mortgage lenders offer different mortgage rates? The answer is here.

Payment Options For Mortgages in Ontario

Mortgages are a type of installment loan, which means you pay back the full loan amount in installments. You have a few options when it comes to how frequently your payments are made, including the following:

Monthly
Bi-weekly
Accelerated bi-weekly
Weekly

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

How to Save For a Down Payment

In order to get a mortgage in Ontario, you’ll need to come up with a lump sum of money to put toward the purchase price of a home, which is known as the down payment. The amount you put down will depend on the type of mortgage you apply for and the price of the home. That said, it can be tough to come up with such a large sum of money, but there are some savvy ways to save up for it:

Keep your spending to a minimum
Dedicate a portion of each paycheck to your down payment savings
Have your savings account automatically debited from your checking account
Borrow against your RRSPs
Borrow from a family member (gifts are allowed for down payments)
Look into a First-Time Homebuyer Program
Make saving for a down payment your top priority
Pay off your high-interest debt, such as credit cards

Click here to learn how you can get a down payment for a house in Canada.

Hidden Costs of Buying a House in Ontario

Your mortgage is definitely a huge cost associated with buying a home in Ontario, but there are other costs associated with this major purchase that you should be aware of, including:

Interest
Legal fees
Real estate commissions
Home inspection
Home appraisal
Property taxes
Property insurance
Title insurance
Mortgage default insurance
Warranty fees
Survey fees
Renovations
Maintenance fees

The list of costs associated with buying a house is definitely a lengthy one, but it’s important to know what these costs are so you can budget accordingly.

For more information about some of these costs, look here.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, it’s entirely possible. The first step is to get a copy of your credit report and dispute any errors. Improving your credit history this way will undoubtedly improve your chances. Even with poor credit history, there are a variety of mortgage lenders on the market who specialize in working with those with bad credit. Of course, there will be some trade-offs for getting a mortgage with bad credit. You may only qualify for a lesser amount than your income would typically qualify for, and at a higher interest rate. You are also more likely to be asked for a higher down payment and could be asked to get the mortgage co-signed.

What are the penalties for paying 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.

How do I get a pre-approved mortgage in Ontario?

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.

Ready to Apply For a Mortgage in Ontario?

Before you apply for a mortgage in Ontario, it’s important to get familiar with what they are and what they entail. You’ll also want to take a close look at your finances and make sure you’re ready to pay a mortgage and become a homeowner in Ontario. If you’ve determined that you’re ready, let Loans Canada help you find a mortgage specialist who can help.

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Note: Loans Canada does not arrange or underwrite mortgages, we are a comparison and simple referral platform.