Research Desk

Ratellow Research Team

The Ratellow Research Team is the institutional research desk behind Ratellow — a group of researchers, editors, and domain specialists who translate OSFI, CMHC, Bank of Canada, and Department of Finance Canada primary sources into the verified Mortgage Canon that powers every answer, guide, FAQ, and briefing on Ratellow.

Verified guides
70
FAQ entries
296
Primary sources
OSFI · CMHC · BoC · DoF
Review cadence
Continuous

Editorial standards

Every piece published under the Ratellow Research Team byline follows the same pipeline as the Ratellow Answer Engine: retrieval over our verified Mortgage Canon, drafting, and an editorial audit against primary sources — OSFI, CMHC, the Bank of Canada, and the Department of Finance Canada. Nothing ships without a verification date and explicit citations.

We do not publish individual author bylines because every piece is a product of this pipeline — not a single contributor. This matches how institutional research desks at banks and rating agencies attribute their work.

Corrections and updates are issued whenever a regulatory primary source changes — for example, the November 2024 OSFI straight-switch rule or the December 2024 increase of the CMHC insurable maximum to $1.5M. See our About page for the broader Ratellow editorial charter.

Primary sources we cite

Every numeric claim published under this byline traces to one of these regulators or rate-setting bodies — not to comparison-site copy.

OSFI
Guideline B-20 underwriting rules and the federally mandated stress test.
Bank of Canada
Policy Rate decisions, Prime transmission, and 5-year GoC bond yields.
CMHC
Insured-mortgage rules, insurable maximums, and default-insurance pricing.
Sagen · Canada Guaranty
Private default-insurance pricing and eligibility for both insurers.
Department of Finance Canada
Federal mortgage policy. Budget-tabled HBP, FHSA, and LTT cap changes.
CRA
Tax treatment of mortgage interest, plus FHSA and HBP repayment schedules.
CREA · Statistics Canada
National and regional housing-market data and MLS HPI benchmarks.
Provincial authorities
Land-transfer tax rates, first-time buyer rebates, and rent controls.

Correction policy

Material corrections are not silent. When OSFI, CMHC, the Bank of Canada, or another primary source changes a rule or figure, we re-verify the affected pages and stamp a new lastVerified date.

Report an error to research@ratellow.com. We check the claim against the primary source and update the page when it does not hold.

Recent research guides

All guides →
Renewal

2026 Canadian Mortgage Renewal Guide: 120–180 Day Rate Strategy & OSFI Rules Explained

Canadian homeowners renewing in 2026 can lock a rate 120–180 days before maturity. Stay with the current lender and the prescribed MQR never applies. An uninsured FRFI straight switch has been exempt since 21 November 2024 when loan amount and remaining amortization do not rise. Portfolio-insured low-ratio switches followed on 16 December 2024. Extra money or a longer amortization is always tested.

Verified Research
Renewal

Switching Mortgage Lenders at Renewal in Canada: 2026 Straight-Switch Guide (No Stress Test)

Switch lenders at renewal without the prescribed MQR when the file stays a straight switch. Uninsured FRFI transfers have been exempt since 21 November 2024 if loan amount and remaining amortization do not rise — credit unions are not FRFIs. Portfolio-insured low-ratio switches followed on 16 December 2024 (unpaid principal may rise by at most $3,000 for costs; no equity take-out). High-ratio insurance transfer is a different path. Extra money or a longer amortization is always tested at the greater of contract + 2% or 5.25%. Guideline B-20 overlays can still apply.

Verified Research
Renewal

Should You Switch Lenders or Stay at Renewal?

Stay is always untested. An uninsured straight switch has been untested since 21 November 2024. A refinance is always tested.

Verified Research
Refinance

2026 Canadian Mortgage Refinance Guide: Costs & Break-Even Math

The 2026 guide to refinancing a mortgage in Canada: what it actually costs (prepayment penalties, IRD vs. three months' interest, legal and appraisal fees), the OSFI stress test and 80% LTV cap, the 90% CMHC secondary-suite refinance, refinance vs. renewal, and the break-even math that shows whether it's worth it.

Verified Research
Financing

2026 First-Time Home Buyer Rebates, Tax Credits & Incentives in Canada

Discover every first-time home buyer rebate and tax credit available in Canada in 2026 — including the new First-Time Home Buyers' GST/HST Rebate (Bill C-4, Royal Assent March 12, 2026), which gives eligible FTHBs up to $50,000 back on new builds up to $1M. This guide covers that program, the Home Buyers' Tax Credit (HBTC), the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP), the First Home Savings Account (FHSA), Ontario's stacked Enhanced HST Rebate (up to $80K provincial on top of the federal for combined ~$130K relief), and key provincial LTT programs — plus how 2026 rule changes like 30-year amortizations and the $1.5M insured cap fit together.

Verified Research
Strategy

Fixed vs. Variable Mortgage Canada 2026: Which Rate Strategy Saves You More?

Compare fixed vs. variable mortgage rates in Canada for 2026 and find the right term strategy for your situation. With the Bank of Canada (BoC) policy rate at 2.25% and the prime rate at 4.45% as of early 2026, this guide breaks down payment stability, break penalties, Interest Rate Differential (IRD) calculations, and how new OSFI (Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions) and CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) rules affect your decision. Whether you're buying your first home or renewing an existing mortgage, learn which term offers the best balance of safety and long-term savings.

Verified Research

Recent briefings

All briefings →

Areas of coverage

  • OSFI Guideline B-20 and the mortgage stress test
  • CMHC, Sagen, and Canada Guaranty insurance rules
  • Bank of Canada policy rate transmission to Prime
  • Mortgage renewal mechanics and the 2025–27 renewal cliff
  • Refinance break-even math and IRD penalties
  • First-time buyer programs (HBP, FHSA, LTT rebates)
  • Readvanceable mortgages, HELOCs, and collateral charges
  • Fixed vs. variable strategy under the current rate path