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Published Ontario guides

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Rule

Is title insurance a substitute for home insurance or a lawyer’s review in Ontario?

No. Title insurance addresses specified title-related risks; home insurance addresses specified property losses. Ontario does not require title insurance, and it does not replace an Ontario real-estate lawyer’s advice, title review or closing work.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 7, 2026

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Rule

Can vacancy, travel or an unoccupied home affect insurance and the mortgage?

Yes. Insurance policies can impose conditions when a home is vacant or unoccupied, especially during heating season, and some losses may be restricted or excluded. There is no safe universal number of days to assume—read the actual policy and notify the insurer.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 7, 2026

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Rule

Why can home-insurance replacement cost differ from the purchase price or appraisal?

They measure different things. A lender appraisal estimates market value for mortgage-security purposes. An insurer’s replacement-cost estimate focuses on rebuilding the insured structure after a covered loss. Neither number is automatically the correct amount for the other job.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 7, 2026

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Rule

Can a home-insurance problem delay or stop an Ontario mortgage closing?

Yes. If acceptable insurance is a lender funding condition, the mortgage may not advance until the lawyer can confirm coverage. The issue is often the property—not the borrower’s income or credit—and it can surface after an approval if insurance was left too late.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 7, 2026

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Rule

Why is my mortgage lender named on home insurance—and who controls claim money?

The lender is usually named as loss payee because the property secures its mortgage. After a significant covered loss, the insurer may pay you, the lender, or both. The lender may release repair money in stages after receiving estimates, invoices or inspection evidence.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 7, 2026

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Rule

Is home insurance the same as mortgage default insurance?

No. Home insurance covers specified damage or loss involving the property and belongings. Mortgage default insurance protects the mortgage lender if the borrower defaults and the sale proceeds do not fully repay the insured loan. It does not replace home insurance and it is not personal payment protection for the homeowner.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 7, 2026

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Rule

Is home insurance legally required to get an Ontario mortgage?

Ontario law does not generally force every homeowner to buy home insurance, but a mortgage lender will normally require acceptable property insurance as a condition of funding. The distinction matters: this is usually a mortgage-contract and lender-risk requirement, not an FSRA rule telling every lender what policy to accept.

Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 7, 2026

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