Why do Different Lenders Offer Different Mortgage Rates?

Why do Different Lenders Offer Different Mortgage Rates?

Written by Caitlin Wood
Last Updated October 24, 2016

Purchasing any type of real-estate, whether it’s your first home, your fifth home, or your forever home, is always going to be a challenging process. There are countless details to take care of, paperwork to go over and sign, and meetings to attend.

One of the major details that people often forget about or are confused about, is shopping around for the best possible interest rate. It can be easy to forget that not everyone will be offered the same interest rates or can qualify for the same rates.  Let’s take a look at why interest rates vary from lender to lender so that you can be as equipped as possible to shop around for a rate and mortgage that works for you.

Lenders and Banks are Businesses         

Something that people often forget is that lenders and banks are businesses, businesses that provide a much-needed service but are also looking to make a profit on that service and compete with other similar businesses. This means they’re looking to get prospective home buyers to apply for a mortgage with them and not all the other lenders in the same location. To achieve this, lenders will more often than not advertise the best possible interest rate they can provide a borrower with. This does not mean that every borrower that applies for or gets approved for a mortgage will be eligible for this low interest rate.

Changes to the Canadian housing rules are being put into place, read this to see how you’ll be affected. 

Why is my Interest Rate Different Than my Friend’s?

There are two main reasons why your mortgage interest rate is different from your parents’, or your neighbour’s or your friend’s. You are the first reason and your lender is the second reason.

The Borrower

Who you are as a borrower greatly affects the interest rate you’ll qualify for. Do you have good credit? Are you currently employed? Are your job and income stable? How much of a down payment have you been able to save? If you’re in the process of looking for a mortgage and you’re confused about the types of interest rates you’re being offered, you should ask yourself the above questions.

Mortgage interest rates depend on a lot of variables because all borrowers are different. It would be next to impossible to offer every single prospective home buyer the exact same interest rate, as they are not all the same type of borrower. When shopping around for a mortgage, keep in mind that your interest rate will be affected by the following variables:

  • The type of mortgage do you want. Fixed or variable? Closed or open?
  • Your credit score
  • What house you want to buy
  • How large of a loan you need
  • How much other debt you currently have

While we understand that it can be very tempting to compare your interest rate to the interest rate your neighbours or friends have, it will likely only cause you more stress. As we explained above, there is no one interest rate that is perfect for every borrower. If a friend of yours applied for their mortgage several years before or after yours, it’s very likely that they will have a different interest rate than you because of this. It’s also likely that a neighbour of yours could have a lower interest rate than you even if you purchased your homes around the same time.

buying a house in Canada

Click here to check out our infographic on the cost of buying a house in Canada.

The Lender

The second main reason why your interest rate is likely different from the majority of homeowners you know is because of the variety of different lenders you all received your mortgages from. If you applied for a mortgage from an established bank, your friend applied for a mortgage from a credit union, and your neighbour applied for their mortgage from a smaller bank, you all probably have different rates. This is because most lenders have different strategies when it comes to offering competitive interest rates. Lenders, banks, and credit unions typically all have:

  • Different profit goals
  • Different levels of competition
  • Different marketing strategies

Simply put, if you’re looking to get a mortgage from a big bank because you like their reputable nature, whose main goal is profit, your interest rate is going to be higher than someone who got their mortgage from a credit union whose main goal is taking on new clients.

All of this is why the majority of financial experts, and probably your parents too, suggest you shop around for a mortgage. Interest rates vary so if you’re interested in saving as much money as possible you need to get a few quotes and compare your options.


Rating of 4/5 based on 8 votes.

Caitlin Wood is the Editor-in-Chief at Loans Canada and specializes in personal finance. She is a graduate of Dawson College and Concordia University and has been working in the personal finance industry for over eight years. Caitlin has covered various subjects such as debt, credit, and loans. Her work has been published on Zoocasa, GoDaddy, and deBanked. She believes that education and knowledge are the two most important factors in the creation of healthy financial habits. She also believes that openly discussing money and credit, and the responsibilities that come with them can lead to better decisions and a greater sense of financial security.

Click on the star to rate it!

How useful was this post?

Research & Compare

Canada's Loan Comparison Platform

Largest Lender Network In Canada

Save time and money with Loans Canada. Research and compare lenders before you apply. Share your experiences with Canada's top lenders.

Save With Loans Canada

Special Offers

Up to $1,500 Cash Back

Up to $1,500 Cash Back
Mortgage offer

Frank Mortgage is Canada’s one-stop shop for mortgages. Get up to $1,500 cash back on your mortgage.

View Offer
Improve Your Credit With Fidem

Improve Your Credit With Fidem
NEW!

Great unsecured credit card for customers currently in, or recently discharged from, a consumer proposal or bankruptcy

View Offer
Earn 5% Cashback With Neo

Earn 5% Cashback With Neo
No annual fee!

Earn an average 5%¹ cashback at thousands of partners and at least 0.5%² cashback guaranteed with Neo.

View Offer
Build Credit For $10/Month

Build Credit For $10/Month
Popular

KOHO’s Credit Building Program helps you build a better credit history with easy to manage payments for just $10/month.

View Offer
Best Personal Loan Provider by Greedy Rates
Icon

Confidential & risk-free

All consultations and conversations with Loans Canada and its partners are confidential and risk-free. Speak with a trusted specialist today and see how we can help you achieve your financial goals faster. Loans Canada and its partners will never ask you for an upfront fee, deposit or insurance payments on a loan. Loans Canada is not a mortgage broker and does not arrange mortgage loans or any other type of financial service.

When you apply for a Loans Canada service, our website simply refers your request to qualified third party providers who can assist you with your search. Loans Canada may receive compensation from the offers shown on its website.

Only provide your information to trusted sources and be aware of online phishing scams and the risks associated with them, including identity theft and financial loss. Nothing on this website constitutes professional and/or financial advice.

Your data is protected and your connection is encrypted.

Loans Canada Services Are 100% Free. Disclaimer

Build Credit For Just $10/Month

With KOHO's prepaid card you can build a better credit score for just $10/month.