Ratellow | Canadian Mortgage Intelligence Blog https://ratellow.com/blog Institutional-grade research and analysis on Canadian mortgage markets, rates, and regulation. en-ca Sat, 31 Oct 2026 21:22:51 GMT <![CDATA[After the October 28 rate hike: what changed for renewers, variable borrowers and buyers]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/mortgage-rates-after-boc-hike-october-31-2026 mortgage-rates-after-boc-hike-october-31-2026 Sat, 31 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT Mortgage Pricing & Competition <![CDATA[Bank of Canada raises its rate to 2.50%: what the October 28 hike means for your mortgage]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/bank-of-canada-rate-hike-october-28-2026 bank-of-canada-rate-hike-october-28-2026 Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT Market Commentary & Outlook <![CDATA[Can a self-employed borrower switch lenders at renewal in Canada?]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/self-employed-switch-lenders-renewal-2026 self-employed-switch-lenders-renewal-2026 Tue, 08 Sep 2026 01:00:00 GMT 2026 Renewal Strategy <![CDATA[What has to be true for fixed to beat variable on a late-2026 $500,000 renewal]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/fixed-vs-variable-renewal-decision-late-2026 fixed-vs-variable-renewal-decision-late-2026 Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT 2026 Renewal Strategy <![CDATA[Does a condo special assessment turn a 2026 mortgage renewal into a refinance?]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/condo-special-assessment-mortgage-renewal-2026 condo-special-assessment-mortgage-renewal-2026 Mon, 31 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT 2026 Renewal Strategy <![CDATA[September 2, 2026 BoC Decision: Seventh Hold at 2.25%]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/september-2026-boc-renewal-decision-guide september-2026-boc-renewal-decision-guide Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:50:52 GMT 2026 Renewal Strategy <![CDATA[The Real Cost of Switching Lenders at Renewal in 2026]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/switching-lenders-at-renewal-2026-costs switching-lenders-at-renewal-2026-costs Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:36:00 GMT 2026 Renewal Strategy <![CDATA[Ottawa Mortgage Rates 2026: 5-Year Fixed 4.59% vs 3.74% Variable]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/ottawa-5-year-fixed-vs-variable-2026 ottawa-5-year-fixed-vs-variable-2026 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT Mortgage Pricing & Competition <![CDATA[Mortgage Renewal 2026–27: Switch, Stay, or Refinance]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/renewal-2026-27-switch-stay-refinance renewal-2026-27-switch-stay-refinance Sat, 29 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT 2026 Renewal Strategy <![CDATA[3-Year vs 5-Year Fixed at Renewal 2026: Both 4.59%]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/3-year-vs-5-year-fixed-renewal-2026 3-year-vs-5-year-fixed-renewal-2026 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT 2026 Renewal Strategy <![CDATA[Do You Have to Pass the Stress Test at Renewal? 2026 Rules]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/stress-test-at-renewal-2026-rules stress-test-at-renewal-2026-rules Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:47:58 GMT Regulatory Update <![CDATA[Bridge Financing Canada 2026: Buying Before You Sell]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/bridge-financing-2026-buy-before-you-sell bridge-financing-2026-buy-before-you-sell Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:47:55 GMT Market Commentary & Outlook <![CDATA[Refinance Before Your 2026 Renewal — or Wait?]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/refinance-before-2026-renewal-or-wait refinance-before-2026-renewal-or-wait Thu, 02 Jul 2026 06:21:57 GMT 2026 Renewal Strategy <![CDATA[Ratellow's AI Mortgage Answer Engine: A Personal Research Hub for Canadians and the Pros Who Advise Them]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/ratellow-ai-mortgage-research-hub ratellow-ai-mortgage-research-hub Fri, 29 May 2026 20:00:00 GMT Market Commentary & Outlook <![CDATA[Past the Down Payment: The 2026 First-Time Buyer Closing-Day Cash Event]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/2026-fthb-closing-day-cash-event-provincial 2026-fthb-closing-day-cash-event-provincial Sat, 16 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT First-Time Buyer Strategy <![CDATA[The First-Time Buyer Stack: How FHSA, the $60K RRSP HBP, and 30-Year Amortization Actually Combine in 2026]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/2026-first-time-buyer-stack-fhsa-hbp-30-year-amortization 2026-first-time-buyer-stack-fhsa-hbp-30-year-amortization Wed, 13 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT First-Time Buyer Strategy <![CDATA[The 90-Day Renewal Countdown: A Week-by-Week Action Plan for 2026 Canadian Mortgage Renewals]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/2026-renewal-90-day-countdown 2026-renewal-90-day-countdown Wed, 06 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT 2026 Renewal Strategy <![CDATA[2026 Mortgage Renewal Payment Shock: What Your Canadian Renewal Actually Costs]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/2026-renewal-payment-shock-calculator 2026-renewal-payment-shock-calculator Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT 2026 Renewal Strategy <![CDATA[Spring 2026 Mortgage Reset: Why Fixed Rates Broke 4% and the BoC Can't Fix It]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/spring-2026-fixed-rate-break spring-2026-fixed-rate-break Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT Market Commentary & Outlook <![CDATA[Variable Mortgage Math: Should You Ride the 2026 Surge?]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/variable-mortgage-surge-math-2026 variable-mortgage-surge-math-2026 Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT 2026 Renewal Strategy <![CDATA[OSFI's Q1 2026 Renewal Warning: 5 Actions to Take Now]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/osfi-q1-2026-renewal-warnings-explained osfi-q1-2026-renewal-warnings-explained Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT Regulatory Update <![CDATA[April 26 BoC Decision: Your 2026 Renewal Playbook]]> https://ratellow.com/blog/april-26-boc-renewal-playbook april-26-boc-renewal-playbook Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT 2026 Renewal Strategy