Canada & Ontario mortgage rule watch

What changed—and what does it mean for your mortgage?

See verified rules, programs and important dates without confusing a regulator’s role with an individual lender’s approval policy.

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Application accuracy or fraud concern?

134 published items match this view. We prioritize the effective date, then the announcement or last-update date.

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In forceMortgage Qualification

Can an insured mortgage be switched at renewal without another stress test?

A qualifying insured straight switch at renewal may avoid another minimum-qualifying-rate test, but the receiving lender still reviews the mortgage and can decline it under its own policy.

Announced
Nov 21, 2023
Effective
Dec 15, 2024
Applies to
Renewing Homeowner
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In forceMortgage Qualification

Does the $1.5 million insured-mortgage cap guarantee financing at the purchase price?

No. The higher insured-price cap expands eligibility for purchases below the program limit, but the lender and insurer still assess the borrower and property, and a lower appraisal can increase the cash required.

Announced
Sep 16, 2024
Effective
Dec 15, 2024
Applies to
Home Buyer
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In forceDown Payment

How much minimum down payment is required on a $1.2 million home?

The federal minimum on a $1.2 million purchase is $95,000: 5% of the first $500,000 plus 10% of the remaining $700,000, provided the mortgage and property qualify for insurance.

Announced
Sep 16, 2024
Effective
Dec 15, 2024
Applies to
First Time Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance

Why must my mortgage broker verify my identity?

Because mortgage brokers, administrators and lenders are reporting entities under Canada’s anti-money-laundering framework and must verify people and entities for specified mortgage records and transactions.

Announced
Oct 11, 2024
Effective
Oct 11, 2024
Applies to
Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance

How long can mortgage compliance records be retained?

Many prescribed mortgage-sector records must be retained for at least five years, although the starting date varies by record. Privacy, brokerage and other legal retention requirements may also apply.

Announced
Oct 11, 2024
Effective
Oct 11, 2024
Applies to
Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance

Can a mortgage transaction be reviewed or reported even below $10,000?

Yes. Suspicious Transaction Reports are based on reasonable grounds to suspect specified financial-crime activity, not on reaching a fixed dollar threshold, and attempted transactions can also be relevant.

Announced
Apr 8, 2024
Effective
Oct 11, 2024
Applies to
Business Owner · Home Buyer
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Lender policy guidanceFINTRAC Compliance

Is a 90-day bank-statement history a FINTRAC rule for every mortgage?

No. FINTRAC creates identity, recordkeeping, monitoring and reporting obligations, but it does not prescribe one universal 90-day down-payment statement rule. Ninety days is commonly an insurer or lender documentation period.

Announced
Oct 11, 2024
Effective
Oct 11, 2024
Applies to
Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance

Why am I asked whether I am politically exposed or connected to a public official?

Because mortgage brokers and lenders must take reasonable measures in prescribed circumstances to identify politically exposed persons, heads of international organizations and certain family members or close associates.

Announced
Oct 11, 2024
Effective
Oct 11, 2024
Applies to
Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance

Why does a broker ask whether someone else is directing the mortgage or providing funds?

Mortgage-sector reporting entities have third-party determination duties for specified records and reports. They may need to understand whether the named client is acting for someone else or whether another person controls the transaction.

Announced
Oct 11, 2024
Effective
Oct 11, 2024
Applies to
Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance

Why must a corporate mortgage disclose its beneficial owners?

Because identifying the individuals who ultimately own or control an entity helps prevent anonymous companies, trusts or partnerships from hiding who is behind a mortgage transaction.

Announced
Jun 16, 2026
Effective
Oct 11, 2024
Applies to
Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance

Why does the mortgage application ask about my occupation or business?

FINTRAC recordkeeping rules require mortgage-sector information records to include a person’s occupation or a sole proprietor’s principal business, and entity records must include the nature of the entity’s business.

Announced
Oct 11, 2024
Effective
Oct 11, 2024
Applies to
Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceMortgage Qualification

Does choosing a 30-year insured amortization cost more than 25 years?

Usually yes. The longer amortization can reduce the required payment, but CMHC applies a 20-basis-point insurance-premium surcharge to eligible 30-year insured mortgages, and slower principal repayment can increase total interest.

Announced
Jul 10, 2024
Effective
Aug 1, 2024
Applies to
First Time Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceMortgage Qualification

Will my lender waive the mortgage penalty if hardship forces a sale?

Possibly, but not automatically. FCAC expects federally regulated institutions to consider waiving prepayment penalties when appropriate for qualifying consumers in severe financial difficulty.

Announced
Jul 5, 2023
Effective
Jul 5, 2023
Applies to
Homeowner
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In forceDown Payment

When is an FHSA withdrawal actually tax-free for a home purchase?

The withdrawal must meet CRA’s qualifying-withdrawal conditions, including first-time-buyer status at the required time, a written agreement for a qualifying home, Canadian residency, acquisition timing and an intention to occupy the home as a…

Effective
Apr 1, 2023
Applies to
First Time Home Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceHousing Tax

Does the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit pay $50,000?

No. Up to $50,000 is the qualifying-expenditure ceiling for an eligible renovation—not the cheque amount. The refundable credit is a percentage of eligible costs and the rate can depend on the tax year.

Announced
Apr 7, 2022
Effective
Jan 1, 2023
Applies to
Homeowner · Investor
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In forceClosing Cost

Is an Ontario Non-Resident Speculation Tax exemption or rebate automatic?

No. Ontario NRST exemptions and rebates have specific purchaser, spouse, immigration, occupancy, registration, documentation and deadline conditions. Expecting future status does not by itself remove tax at closing.

Effective
Oct 25, 2022
Applies to
First Time Home Buyer · Home Buyer
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How to read this centre

Rules, insurer requirements and lender policies are different layers.

01

Government or regulator

Sets laws, program requirements or prudential boundaries. FSRA regulates; it does not write every lender’s underwriting policy.

02

Insurer or program

Applies only when the mortgage or client fits that insured product or program. It should not be generalized to every conventional deal.

03

Individual lender

Decides its own acceptable income, property, credit and exception policy inside the applicable rules.

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Review What This Rule Means for MeRajiv Verma, Mortgage BrokerOntario · No automatic approval or lender outcome is implied.