Mortgage Qualify

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Mortgage & Home Affordability Calculator

Purchase or refinance, stress test, CMHC insurance, and closing costs — all worked out together, based on how lenders actually qualify you.

This week's posted bank rates

As of September 23, 2026

Prime rate

4.45%

1-year fixed

5.49%

3-year fixed

6.05%

5-year fixed

6.09%

These are official posted rates — typically higher than what a lender will actually offer after negotiation, so use them as a general reference point, not a quote. Source: Bank of Canada, published weekly.

Your financial picture

Down payment size

Estimated closing costs

Based on your estimated affordable price, below.

$10,677

Legal / notary fees$1,500
Title insurance$350
Home inspection$550
Appraisal fee$325
Land transfer tax$5,248
First-time buyer rebate applied — saved $8,475
Tax on CMHC premium (if applicable)$984
Moving costs (estimate)$1,200
Tax / utility adjustments$519

Estimated affordable price

$519,336

Total loan amount

$451,637

Monthly mortgage payment

$3,105

Down payment is under 20%, so CMHC insurance applies at 84.6% LTV.

Premium: $12,301 (added to your loan amount above)

Frequently asked questions

How is my maximum affordable home price calculated?+

We start with your income and debts to find the maximum monthly housing payment you'd qualify for under the federal stress test (GDS and TDS ratios). Then we work out the largest home price that payment supports, given your down payment — capped by CMHC's tiered minimum down payment rules if you're putting down less than 20%.

Why does my down payment sometimes limit the price more than my income?+

Because CMHC insurance follows a tiered minimum down payment rule (5% on the first $500,000, 10% up to $1.5M), a fixed down payment dollar amount can only support insured financing up to a certain price — even if your income could qualify for more. Above that price, you'd need a larger down payment or a conventional (20%+) mortgage.

What's the difference between GDS and TDS?+

GDS (Gross Debt Service) measures your housing costs — mortgage payment, property tax, heating, and half of any condo fees — against your income, capped at 39%. TDS (Total Debt Service) adds in your other monthly debts on top of housing costs. The TDS ceiling depends on whether the mortgage is insured (44%) or conventional, and whether it's a principal residence (50%) or a rental property (44%).

Does refinancing use the same qualifying rules as buying?+

Mostly, yes — the same GDS/TDS math and stress test apply. The key difference is that refinances can never be CMHC-insured in Canada, regardless of your equity position, so they're always evaluated under conventional TDS limits.

Are these numbers exact, or estimates?+

Estimates. Lenders may weigh credit score, employment type, and other factors we don't have access to. Use this to get a realistic range before you talk to a mortgage professional — not as a guarantee of approval.