Ontario Mortgage Decision Centre
Choose the concern closest to yours. The useful answer may depend on the documents, property, timing and lender policy—not simply whether one lender said yes or no.
Find the answer from your problem
Separate the real lender concern from assumptions.
Income · credit · debt ratios · property · down paymentShow me where to start →02Show how the business earns before choosing a lender route.
A lending · bank statements · financials · T1 approachShow me where to start →03Understand the bureau, timing and cause—not only the score.
Equifax · TransUnion · utilization · collections · recoveryShow me where to start →04Compare the complete decision before signing early.
Rate · payment · penalty · switching cost · flexibilityShow me where to start →05Match the purpose, cost and exit plan to the right structure.
Debt consolidation · renovations · investment · CRA debtShow me where to start →06Test the rental calculation and portfolio effect by lender route.
Subject rent · existing rentals · cash flow · reservesShow me where to start →07Work backward from the deadline and available equity.
Appraisal · funds to close · job change · urgent alternativesShow me where to start →How the answer is built
Buying, selling or investing?
Property type, legal use, insurance, appraisal, taxes, condo information and closing dates can change the mortgage answer. Connect both sides before the transaction becomes difficult to reverse.
Need a focused review?
Tell Rajiv what you are trying to accomplish and what the lender has already said. He can help identify the questions and responsible options worth exploring next.
Published mortgage guidance
Use the guided situations above or search every published answer, concept and strategy.
Strategy
The lawyer needs the purchase documents, lender instructions, identification, insurance evidence and cleared client funds in time to complete the legal closing. Mortgage approval alone does not deliver the keys.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 6, 2026
Read the practical answer →Strategy
Plan for the lender to lend against the lower acceptable value, not automatically the purchase price. Before making the offer firm, understand the cash shortfall, reconsideration evidence, lender alternatives and the legal deadline.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 6, 2026
Read the practical answer →Strategy
Avoid unnecessary job changes, new credit, financed purchases, missed payments and unexplained money movements between approval and closing. If a change is unavoidable, tell Rajiv before acting so the effect can be tested.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 6, 2026
Read the practical answer →Strategy
No mortgage is guaranteed merely because the file is described as complete. “Lender-complete” should mean the stated lender conditions have been satisfied, but funding can still depend on no material changes, lawyer instructions, insurance, property matters and final lender controls.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 6, 2026
Read the practical answer →Strategy
Treat them as three connected deadlines. The offer deposit is usually due under the purchase agreement, the lender needs an acceptable down-payment trail during underwriting, and the lawyer needs cleared closing funds before completion.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 6, 2026
Read the practical answer →Strategy
Yes. Borrower approval and property approval are separate. A lender or insurer may question value, condition, location, legal use, marketability, condo information or property type even when the buyer’s income and credit are strong.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 6, 2026
Read the practical answer →Strategy
Use the condition period to obtain and review the live lender decision instead of merely resending the pre-approval. The borrower, property, appraisal, insurer and outstanding documents may all need attention before the condition is waived.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 6, 2026
Read the practical answer →Strategy
Send the listing, proposed price, taxes, condo fees, intended use, offer deadline and closing date before the offer becomes firm. A borrower pre-approval cannot confirm an unseen property.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 6, 2026
Read the practical answer →Strategy
Know the comfortable payment, tested price range, available cash and unresolved approval risks before viewing. A calculator or quick pre-qualification is not enough when an attractive property creates pressure to offer.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 6, 2026
Read the practical answer →Rule
Yes. Ontario’s land-transfer-tax refund has spouse-related rules, so “I personally never owned” is not always enough. The maximum refund is $4,000 for qualifying transactions, but the lawyer should confirm eligibility before it is included in cash-to-close estimates.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 6, 2026
Read the practical answer →