Minimum down payment
5% on the first $500,000 and 10% on the portion up to $1.5M; 20% at or above the insured-mortgage cap.
RECOVERED BOLT GUIDE · REVIEWED AUGUST 2026
Canadian mortgage rules.
The qualification rules and risk controls behind the calculators, in plain language.Stress test
Qualify at the higher of 5.25% or the contract rate plus 2 percentage points.
Amortization
30-year insured amortizations are available for eligible first-time buyers and buyers of new builds; otherwise common insured maximums are shorter.
Debt service
Common underwriting ceilings are 39% GDS and 44% TDS, but lenders and insurers can apply stricter rules.
Renewal risk
Most Canadian mortgages renew before full amortization, so payment and qualification risk can change at the end of each term.