Breaking a fixed mortgage can trigger an interest rate differential penalty. Before relying on a lower-rate comparison, request the lender payout statement and review the contract method, fees, restrictions, timing, and replacement-offer assumptions.
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Interest rate differential, often relevant when breaking a fixed-rate mortgage early.
Some contracts compare an IRD calculation with three months of interest.
Ask the lender for the actual calculation and assumptions for your file.
Methods, comparison rates, fees, and terms vary by lender and contract.
An IRD penalty is a lender-defined fixed-mortgage break-penalty calculation. It may compare your contract rate with a comparison rate or method for the remaining term, then apply the difference using the lender's contract rules.
The important point is that the exact calculation is contract-specific. Two borrowers with similar balances and rates can receive different penalty outcomes because timing, lender method, remaining term, prepayment privileges, and comparison-rate definitions can differ.
Review TD break-penalty questions, payout-statement items, and contract-specific limitations.
Review RBC break-penalty questions, payout-statement items, and contract-specific limitations.
Review Scotiabank break-penalty questions, payout-statement items, and contract-specific limitations.
Review BMO break-penalty questions, payout-statement items, and contract-specific limitations.
Review CIBC break-penalty questions, payout-statement items, and contract-specific limitations.
Review National Bank break-penalty questions, payout-statement items, and contract-specific limitations.
FairRate provides educational context only. It does not calculate your binding lender penalty, provide legal advice, arrange a replacement mortgage, or decide whether breaking a mortgage is appropriate.
IRD means interest rate differential. It is a fixed-mortgage break-penalty concept based on the lender’s contract, the remaining term, the balance, and a comparison rate or method defined by the lender.
No. Some fixed-rate mortgages compare three months of interest with an IRD calculation, but the actual penalty depends on the lender contract, timing, remaining balance, remaining term, and calculation method.
A generic page cannot decide that. Request a payout statement, review the penalty calculation, fees, restrictions, qualification requirements, and any replacement-offer terms with qualified help before relying on a comparison.