Canadian Mortgage Calculators

Free calculators for the Canadian mortgage market — stress test, CMHC insurance, provincial land transfer tax, FHSA and renewal planning. All figures in CAD.

Core Calculators

Down Payment & Insurance Calculators

First-Time Buyer Calculators

Land Transfer & Tax Calculators

Refinance & Renewal Calculators

Specialty Calculators

About Canadian Mortgages

Canadian mortgages are typically structured with a 25-year amortization (30 years for uninsured borrowers) but a much shorter term — most commonly 5 years fixed. At the end of each term, you renew with your existing lender or switch to a new one. Interest is compounded semi-annually rather than monthly, which means a posted Canadian rate is slightly less expensive than the same rate in the US.

The federal mortgage stress test, set by OSFI under Guideline B-20, requires borrowers to qualify at the greater of 5.25% or their contract rate plus 2%. This applies to all federally regulated lenders for both purchases and refinances. Down payments under 20% require default insurance through CMHC, Sagen or Canada Guaranty, with premiums added to the loan balance.

Provincial land transfer tax is one of the largest closing costs — Toronto adds a municipal LTT on top of the Ontario provincial tax, while Alberta, Saskatchewan and rural Nova Scotia have no LTT at all. First-time buyers can claim provincial rebates plus the federal $10,000 non-refundable tax credit and use the FHSA and RRSP Home Buyers' Plan to assemble a tax-advantaged down payment.

Key Regulators & Programs

  • Bank of Canada (BoC) — sets the overnight rate that drives prime and variable mortgage rates
  • OSFI — Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions; sets the B-20 stress test
  • CMHC — Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; default insurer and policy authority
  • Sagen & Canada Guaranty — private default insurers competing with CMHC
  • FCAC — Financial Consumer Agency of Canada; consumer protection oversight
  • FHSA, RRSP HBP, First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit — federal first-buyer support programs

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