Finding the Best Online Mortgage Lenders

Canadians are known for their polite and passive nature. It’s no surprise, then, to see Canadian homeowners lagging compared to their global peers when it comes to switching mortgage providers or even doing research on the best online mortgage lenders to see whether they can get a better deal elsewhere.

According to an HSBC global survey, just 39% of Canadian homeowners had ever switched mortgage lenders, compared to 53% of their American counterparts and 44% overall. Only half of the Canadian respondents said they have even looked to see if they can get a better deal by switching mortgage providers, compared to 61% globally.

Despite the massive shift towards online mortgage lending, it seems many Canadian homeowners and prospective buyers still take a traditional path with their big bank – even signing on to renew with their bank’s first offer rather than shopping around to compare interest rates.

I’ll admit in my two decades of homeownership, I’ve largely stuck with a traditional brick-and-mortar lender or a big bank. But as online mortgage lending grows and interest rates become more competitive, I’m warming to the idea of making the switch.

What Are the Best Online Mortgage Lenders?

Should You Apply for an Online Mortgage?

The ideal candidate for an online mortgage is a well-qualified, rate-sensitive shopper with pretty basic mortgage needs. In other words, the majority of homeowners and potential homebuyers.

The best mortgage rates tend to come from reputable online mortgage brokers. Modern digital mortgage solutions like Breezeful and Homewise are not individual mortgage providers but are platforms that can give you the best mortgage offers from a range of reputable lenders across Canada. With a single online search, you can compare the lowest mortgage rates available in your province, and search by fixed or variable rates and terms from 1-10 years. Their rates are often substantially lower than those offered by the big banks.

What’s great is that online banks and mortgage brokers have more flexibility than traditional banks when it comes to the mortgages they offer and approve. You’re not automatically disqualified if you don’t pass the stress test, as it’s just one factor used to help figure out whether a mortgage is a good fit for a borrower. They consider lots of other things, such as income appreciation, accelerated payment options, and overall principal reduction.

Tips for Finding the Best Online Mortgage Lenders

Typically, the main objective of a borrower is to minimize overall costs. However, that does not necessarily mean choosing the lowest interest rate. Penalties, fees and rate surcharges can easily offset a small difference in lender rates.

Penalties can apply if you break your mortgage before the term is up, like if you need to sell or refinance your home. Some lenders have prepayment charges as high as 3% of your principal – a steep price to pay to break your mortgage.

Other “no-frills” mortgages might restrict you from refinancing with any other lender before maturity, while others might prevent you from increasing your mortgage before maturity without a penalty – a term known as “blend and increase.”

Watch for these “gotcha’s” and more when searching for an online mortgage. Read the fine print and pop-up notifications to make sure you understand all of the terms and restrictions before you sign up.

Finally, look for favourable pre-payment terms that align with how you want to pay off your mortgage. A standard is to allow you to prepay 15 – 20% in a lump sum each year and/or increase your payments by as much. This is important especially as you get closer to paying off your mortgage in full.

How the Online Mortgage Application Process Works

I figured that an online mortgage application would be fairly straightforward. To be sure, I went through the process and filled out an application online with Breezeful.

I first had to respond to some questions about what kind of mortgage services I was looking for.

Next, you’ll be asked things about your down payment and your credit rating.

Finally, you’ll build a profile by entering some personal information, such as your name, phone number, current address, email address and birthday.

The rest of the application was as straightforward as applying for a credit card online. Employment information, income, and a list of assets. After some legal disclaimers and a summary, I was ready to move on to the next step – verifying all of that information by scanning and uploading paystubs, T4s, mortgage statements, and property tax statements.

The entire online mortgage application process took less than 10 minutes. It’s that easy! Once all of your information is verified and your application is processed, your mortgage lender contacts you with the next steps.

Use an Online Mortgage Calculator

An online mortgage calculator is a good place to start to determine how much you can afford to spend on a home. You can use a number of variables, including your income, down payment, property taxes, and debt payments to help you work out a budget.

For existing homeowners, there are refinancing calculators available online at most banks to help you determine how much equity you can access from your home with a refinanced mortgage.

Can I Get a Mortgage Pre-Approval Online?

Before you go through the mortgage application process, it’s a good idea to pre-qualify or get pre-approved ahead of time so you can establish the mortgage amount you may qualify for.

Pre-approval means that a lender has stated in writing that you qualify for a mortgage loan based on your current income and credit history. Pre-approval can also guarantee the interest rate for up to 120 days, provided your financial situation doesn’t change.

A mortgage pre-approval signals to sellers and real estate agents that you’re a serious buyer, which can give you negotiation leverage, especially during a bidding war. You’ll have the ability to move fast to close the deal and finalize your mortgage.

You can get a mortgage pre-approval online through most banks, credit unions, and online lenders with no impact on your credit score. You can start right now:

Down Payment Rules and Mortgage Stress Test

If you’re buying a house in Canada, you’ll need to put down a minimum of 5% of the purchase price of the home to qualify. Anything less than a 20% down payment is called a “high-ratio” mortgage, which falls under CMHC mortgage default insurance and the borrower must pay extra fees – with insurance premium rates ranging from 1.80% to 4.00% of your total mortgage amount.

Homebuyers with a down payment of 20% or more have an uninsured mortgage. They avoid the hefty CMHC fees, but as of January 2018, they are now subject to stricter qualifying criteria. This so-called stress test is used to determine whether a homebuyer would be able to afford their payments should interest rates increase. Basically, the borrower must be able to qualify at either the 5-year benchmark rate published by the Bank of Canada or the customer’s mortgage interest rate plus 2% – whichever is the higher.

Pros and Cons of Getting a Mortgage Online

An online mortgage isn’t for everyone, but generally speaking, if you have stable employment, easily verifiable income, and a good credit score (700 or better), then it’s worth a look. If you’re self-employed, work on commission, have a poor credit history or have some other unusual circumstances then it’s best to go with a traditional mortgage broker.

The advantage of getting an online mortgage is it empowers the individual homeowner or homebuyer to be his or her own mortgage broker. You’re doing the research, finding the lowest interest rates, and identifying the most favourable terms that suit your situation.

There’s no potential conflict of interest or feeling that you’re not being given all the appropriate information. It’s right there for you to see. On the flip side, you need to be comfortable doing your own research and know the terms and conditions you’re looking for in a mortgage. If you mess up, there’s no one to blame but yourself.

A conventional mortgage broker works on your behalf to find you the best mortgage. The advantage is that they have access to a wider range of lenders than just one bank. A broker can be helpful and almost necessary for those with poor credit or income that is not easily verifiable.

On the downside, a broker is paid by the lender and may not have the homebuyer’s best interest at heart (for example: if they receive an incentive to refer one lender over another).

Finally, you can get a mortgage at your bank or credit union. The upside here is that you might have a long-standing relationship with your bank, or more specifically with an advisor at your bank who knows your history inside and out.

It might be more convenient to have all of your banking – including your mortgage – in just one place.

The cons of getting a mortgage at your bank are that you’re likely not getting the best interest rate on the market by dealing with just one lender. Heck, your bank might even be offering better rates to other online mortgage shoppers rather than to the customer sitting across the desk.

Final Thoughts

Online mortgage lending has democratized the lending industry and put knowledge and power into the hands of everyday Canadian homebuyers. With interest rates and mortgage terms at our fingertips, (thanks to online comparison sites), homeowners and prospective buyers can apply for a mortgage without leaving their couches.

The widespread availability of information has fostered a more competitive rate environment that is no longer dominated by Canada’s big five banks. Now, the best online mortgage lenders are offering rates up to 50 basis points lower than the big banks, helping customers save on one of the biggest expenses of their lives.

In the mortgage lending world, a wealth of options is a great problem to have. As long as you’ve done your homework and crunched the numbers, you’ll be good to go in no time.