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Guides
The rules, the math and the fine print behind the biggest mortgage decisions Canadians make. Each guide works through real numbers and links to the calculator that goes with it.
Buying
- Down payment and mortgage insurance in Canada
Minimum down payment tiers, the $1.5 million insured limit, premiums, and who gets a 30-year amortization.
- The mortgage stress test, explained
Why you qualify at a higher rate than you pay, how much it costs you in borrowing power, and when it doesn't apply.
Owning
- Semi-annual compounding, explained with real numbers
Why Canadian payments differ from American calculators, and how to convert any quoted rate yourself.
- Mortgage penalties: three months' interest vs. IRD
How penalties are calculated, why posted-rate IRD can be so large, and seven ways to reduce one.
Renewing
- How to negotiate your mortgage renewal
A timeline, a phone script, and how the straight-switch rule lets you shop without a stress test.
Retiring
- Reverse mortgages in Canada
Eligibility, how much you can borrow, the real cost of compounding, and the alternatives to compare first.