The renewal letter from your lender is an opening offer, not its best rate. Get a competing quote and you have something to negotiate with. At maturity, switching costs no penalty.
The fine print beats a tenth of a point
Portability, prepayment privileges, the penalty formula: any of these can matter more than a tenth of a point. Two offers at the same rate can end up thousands apart if you break the term early.
Four routes at maturity
You can stay and accept, stay and negotiate, transfer to another lender, or refinance. They don’t cost the same. And only the last one puts you through a full qualification again.
Documents to gather
What the lender will ask for.
Your lender’s current offer
Balance remaining
Mortgage penalty
Rates and term choices
Payment flexibility
Transfer deadline
Frequently asked
Which documents should I gather?+
Your last two notices of assessment, recent pay stubs, an employment letter, three months of bank statements and proof of your down payment. Add your renewal offer and the current balance. Ready ahead of time, they keep a short financing window realistic.
Current rates
Today’s rates, with the fine print.
These rates are indicative. Yours depends on your file, the type of mortgage (insured or not) and the lender. And look at the penalty too, it matters as much as the number.
Buying, renewing, refinancing, or something a bit out of the ordinary: tell us where you’re at, even if it’s still fuzzy. Mathieu gets back to you with next steps and the documents to pull together.
