Ratellow Blog
Institutional-grade research and analysis on Canadian mortgage markets, rates, and regulation.
Top Stories
Refinance Before Your 2026 Renewal — or Wait?
Updated 16 days ago
Sub-4% rates are tempting the renewal-wave homeowner. But for most people within two years of renewal, the penalty and refi-only stress test mean waiting wins.
Ratellow's AI Mortgage Answer Engine: A Personal Research Hub for Canadians and the Pros Who Advise Them
How Ratellow uses frontier AI models to turn the Canadian mortgage canon into instant, sourced answers — and how anyone can save scenarios, FAQs, and calculators to a free Personal Research Hub.
Past the Down Payment: The 2026 First-Time Buyer Closing-Day Cash Event
Provincial closing costs vary widely in 2026. PST on CMHC premium, Quebec's new welcome-tax rebate, and a $750K cash event across five Canadian cities.
Latest Feed
The First-Time Buyer Stack: How FHSA, the $60K RRSP HBP, and 30-Year Amortization Actually Combine in 2026
Published 2 months ago
The three biggest 2024 first-time-buyer reforms — $60K HBP, FHSA carry-forward, 30-year insured amortization — work better stacked. Worked math.
The 90-Day Renewal Countdown: A Week-by-Week Action Plan for 2026 Canadian Mortgage Renewals
Published 2 months ago
A week-by-week 90-day plan for 2026 Canadian mortgage renewers. Lock a rate hold, run the math, negotiate, switch — every action mapped to the day.
2026 Mortgage Renewal Payment Shock: What Your Canadian Renewal Actually Costs
Published 3 months ago
1.15 million Canadian mortgages renew in 2026, most at rates roughly double what they locked in. Run your number in our inline calculator and see the real 5-year cost.
Spring 2026 Mortgage Reset: Why Fixed Rates Broke 4% and the BoC Can't Fix It
Published 3 months ago
CREA just downgraded its 2026 forecast after fixed rates jumped above 4% in March. Here's what the bond-yield shock means for renewers and spring buyers.
April 26 BoC Decision: Your 2026 Renewal Playbook
Published 3 months ago
The Bank of Canada decides April 26. If you're renewing in the next 180 days, here's the exact playbook for either outcome — with the math.
OSFI's Q1 2026 Renewal Warning: 5 Actions to Take Now
Published 3 months ago
OSFI flagged a 'small cohort' of Canadian renewers facing real stress. Here's what Q1 2026 filings mean in plain English, and 5 actions to take now.
Variable Mortgage Math: Should You Ride the 2026 Surge?
Published 3 months ago
Variable-rate mortgage funding hit a new high in January 2026 as borrowers bet on BoC cuts. Here's the math on a $500K renewal before you follow.
