Mortgage Renewal News
News, analysis, and commentary on the Canadian mortgage market — every item curated for relevance to homeowners coming up for renewal in 2026 and 2027.
Don't Auto-Renew Blind
Renewal Payment Shock Calculator: Walkthrough With 2026 Numbers
How to use a renewal calculator properly — which balance, which rates, and how to read stay-vs-switch results before you sign.
Early Renewal Rate Holds: The Free Insurance Most Renewers Skip
Lenders and brokers hold rates 90–120 days before maturity for free. How early-renewal holds work and the two mistakes that void them.
Extending Amortization at Renewal to Lower Your Payment
Resetting to 25 or 30 years at renewal cuts the payment — but raises lifetime interest. The math, the rules, and who it suits in 2026.
Stress Test When Switching Lenders at Renewal (2026 Rules)
Do you re-qualify under the stress test when you switch lenders at renewal? Straight switches vs refinances vs amortization changes.
Switching Lenders at Renewal: True Costs (Legal, Discharge, Appraisal)
What switching lenders at maturity really costs in 2026 — legal, discharge, appraisal — and why it's still usually cheaper than auto-renewing.
Blend-and-Extend at Renewal: When It Beats Switching
Your lender offers to blend your rate and extend the term — no legal fees, no appraisal. When blend-and-extend wins and when it's a trap.
Breaking Before Maturity in 2026: Penalty Math Made Simple
Thinking of breaking your mortgage before renewal? How IRD vs 3-months-interest penalties work, plus the break-even test to run first.
Renewal Offer Letter Traps: Posted Rates, Auto-Renewal, and Fine Print
Your bank's renewal letter is a first offer, not a final one. Posted-rate traps, auto-renewal clauses, and the fine print to check before signing.
Fixed vs Variable at Renewal 2026: How Renewers Should Choose
Renewing in 2026 and torn between fixed and variable? A decision framework for renewers — spread math, penalty risk, and sleep-at-night factor.
Rate Alert: What to Do 90 Days Before Your 2026 Renewal
Your bank's renewal letter is coming. Three moves in the 90-day window — rate hold, competing quote, switch math — that set up every 2026 renewal.
Bank of Canada Holds Rate at 2.25% — Sixth Consecutive Hold
The BoC held its overnight rate at 2.25% on July 15, 2026 — the sixth consecutive hold. Prime remains 4.45%. Next announcement is October 28, 2026 (2026-10-28).
Mortgage Discharge Fees Still Matter in July 2026 — Even With Legal-Paid Switches
TD and Scotia still charge ~$340 to discharge. Here's how switch promos, collateral charges, and Quebec notary fees change your net renewal math.
First Renewal Payment Shock: A 2020–2021 Borrower's Checklist
If you bought or renewed in 2020–2021, your 2025–2026 renewal may be your first payment increase. Five actions before you sign your bank's letter.
Bank of Canada Holds at 2.25% — What It Means for July 2026 Renewals
BoC held the overnight rate at 2.25% on June 10, 2026 (prime 4.45%). Next decision July 15. How a steady policy rate affects fixed vs variable renewal choices.
CMHC Spring 2026: One Million Households Still Renewing
CMHC's Spring 2026 RMIR projects roughly one million mortgage renewals in 2026 — down from the 2025 peak but still elevated. What it means for payment shock.
CMHC Spring 2026: Renewal Wave Peaked — 1M Households Still Ahead
CMHC's Spring 2026 RMIR finds renewal volumes peaked in 2025 (~1.2M) and are projected 13% lower in 2026 (~1M households). Delinquencies ticked up to 0.24% nationally; variable-rate share hit 42% of new extensions by February 2026.
Bank of Canada Holds Rate at 2.25% — Fourth Consecutive Hold
The BoC held its overnight rate at 2.25% for the fourth consecutive meeting, warning that decisions are clouded by uncertainty as oil-driven inflation rebounds. Prime rate remains 4.45%. Subsequent holds followed; next announcement is October 28, 2026 (2026-10-28).
Bank of Canada Holds Rate at 2.25% in March Decision
The BoC held its overnight rate at 2.25% for the third consecutive meeting, citing stable inflation at 1.9% and resilient Canadian labour market data. Prime rate remains at 4.45%. Here's what the hold means for anyone renewing in 2026.
OSFI Stress Test Exemption for Lender Switches: 18 Months In
November 21, 2024: OSFI exempted uninsured straight switches from the prescribed MQR. B-20 and lender overlays remain. What to know before switching in 2026.
November 2024 Stress Test Change: What It Means 18 Months Later
OSFI's November 21, 2024 rule change exempted uninsured straight-switch renewals from the prescribed MQR. 18 months in, we look at switching behaviour, lender competition, and real borrower savings. B-20 overlays remain.
The December 2024 Mortgage Reforms: 30-Year Amortization Now Live
First-time buyers and new-build purchasers with insured mortgages can now amortize over 30 years — up from 25. One year later, the program has meaningfully expanded affordability. Here's how it applies at renewal.
Trigger Rate Anxiety Fades as Prime Drops to 4.45%
Two years ago, variable-rate borrowers were hitting trigger rates in droves. With prime now at 4.45% — down from its 7.20% peak — the trigger-rate crisis has largely resolved. But if you had one, it's time to check whether your amortization restored to schedule.
Canadian Mortgage Charter: What Changed Between 2023 and 2026
Introduced in Budget 2023, the Canadian Mortgage Charter codified lender obligations around at-risk borrowers. Three years on, we look at what it delivered, what banks did voluntarily, and what's still missing at renewal.
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Related Guides
Bank of Canada Rate Decisions
Every BoC rate decision and what it means for your mortgage.
Canadian Rate Forecast
Where rates are heading — major bank forecasts for 2026 and beyond.
Best Mortgage Renewal Rates
Current best renewal rates — fixed and variable — across Canada.
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Renewal Case Studies
Real Canadian renewals — numbers, decisions, and outcomes.
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