Ontario Mortgage Decision Centre

Start with what is making the mortgage difficult.

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.

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Find the answer from your problem

Which situation sounds closest to yours?

How the answer is built

Understand the obstacle before comparing solutions.

  1. 01Identify the pain pointWhat changed, what was declined and what deadline applies?
  2. 02Separate facts from assumptionsWhich documents, calculations and property facts were actually reviewed?
  3. 03Compare executable routesWhich suitable A, alternative/B, MIC or private options may exist—and at what cost?

Buying, selling or investing?

The mortgage plan and property plan should meet before the offer.

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.

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Need a focused review?

A definition cannot see your income, credit, property or deadline.

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.

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Published mortgage guidance

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Answer

What if my occupancy plans change after the mortgage application?

Owner-occupied, second-home and rental mortgages can be assessed differently. A client should never describe a rental as a principal residence merely to obtain easier qualification or pricing. The right next step is to identify exactly what the lender, lawyer or insurer still needs, confirm the deadline, and deal with the real issue before the client relies on the mortgage.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026

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Answer

What is a mortgage discharge, and why can the payout be higher than my balance?

The online mortgage balance is not necessarily the amount required to close. A payout can include accrued interest, a prepayment charge, discharge or assignment costs and other contractual amounts. The right next step is to identify exactly what the lender, lawyer or insurer still needs, confirm the deadline, and deal with the real issue before the client relies on the mortgage.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026

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Answer

Is a mortgage appraisal the same as a home inspection?

Both involve the property, but they protect different decisions. An appraisal helps the lender assess value and marketability; an inspection helps the buyer understand physical condition and potential repairs. The right next step is to identify exactly what the lender, lawyer or insurer still needs, confirm the deadline, and deal with the real issue before the client relies on the mortgage.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026

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Answer

Why am I being charged a lender fee or mortgage broker fee?

Clients may expect every mortgage broker service to be lender-paid. That is common with many prime mortgages, but alternative, private and complex transactions can include lender and brokerage fees that must be understood as part of the full borrowing cost. The right next step is to identify exactly what the lender, lawyer or insurer still needs, confirm the deadline, and deal with the real issue before the client relies on the mortgage.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026

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Answer

Why does the lender need proof of home insurance before closing?

A client may think insurance can be arranged after receiving the keys. The lender has money secured against the property and normally needs acceptable coverage in force for closing, with its interest properly noted. The right next step is to identify exactly what the lender, lawyer or insurer still needs, confirm the deadline, and deal with the real issue before the client relies on the mortgage.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026

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Answer

What does my real-estate lawyer do for the mortgage closing?

The broker arranges financing, but the lawyer handles the legal closing. Clients can lose time when insurance, identification, funds, title questions or lender instructions reach the lawyer too late. The right next step is to identify exactly what the lender, lawyer or insurer still needs, confirm the deadline, and deal with the real issue before the client relies on the mortgage.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026

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Answer

What should I review before signing a mortgage commitment?

A low rate can draw attention away from the clauses that affect the client later: term, payment, prepayment limits, penalty method, portability, fees, conditions, maturity and whether the proposed mortgage actually supports the client’s plans. The right next step is to identify exactly what the lender, lawyer or insurer still needs, confirm the deadline, and deal with the real issue before the client relies on the mortgage.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026

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Answer

Why is the lender asking for the same mortgage documents again?

Repeated requests feel inefficient and can make a client wonder whether the file is in trouble. Often the lender needs a newer document, a clearer copy, a missing page or evidence that connects two parts of the application. The right next step is to identify exactly what the lender, lawyer or insurer still needs, confirm the deadline, and deal with the real issue before the client relies on the mortgage.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026

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Answer

My mortgage is conditionally approved. What still has to happen before closing?

The word ‘approved’ can sound final, but a conditional approval means the lender is prepared to proceed only after every stated condition—and sometimes an updated closing check—is satisfactory. The right next step is to identify exactly what the lender, lawyer or insurer still needs, confirm the deadline, and deal with the real issue before the client relies on the mortgage.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026

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Answer

What happens if a couple separates before their mortgage closing?

The purchase agreement and mortgage approval do not disappear when the relationship ends. One buyer may no longer want the property, while neither person can assume their name can be removed from the contract or mortgage. Disclose the change before relying on an earlier approval. Rajiv can rebuild the file using the current legal obligations, income and ownership plan, then compare the existing lender, A and alternative lenders, or a temporary MIC/private option only where it solves a defined transition.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026

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