Broker floor: 3.85% · Bank average: 4.25% · Stress test qualifying rate: 5.85%. For good credit (680–749) borrowers doing a refinance in Ontario.
Paid report options after the free check: Rate Fairness Report CA$24 · Full Renewal Decision Report CA$49. No broker calls. No data sold.
Variable rate mortgages float with the Bank of Canada prime rate (currently 4.45%). The broker floor reflects prime minus 0.85%, adjusted for credit tier. The bank average reflects prime minus 0.45%. For good credit borrowers, an additional 25 basis points applies above the excellent-credit baseline.
The result for a 7-Year variable mortgage with good credit is a broker floor of 3.85% and a bank average of 4.25%. These are the two anchors used to evaluate any offer. On a $500,000 mortgage, the benchmark payment is approximately $2,641/month and this combination's rate produces approximately $2,590/month — $51 less than the 5-year fixed excellent-credit benchmark.
Rates are illustrative based on Bank of Canada benchmark data and do not constitute a lender quote. Verify current rates with your lender.
| Rate anchor | Rate | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Broker floor | 3.85% | Lowest rate available through the broker channel for this profile |
| Bank average | 4.25% | Typical rate at major bank retail branches |
| Posted ceiling | 5.99% | Bank's starting-point rate before discounting — never pay this without negotiating |
| Stress test qualifying rate | 5.85% | Rate used to calculate maximum qualifying mortgage (contract rate + 2%, min 5.25%) |
Ontario charges a provincial Land Transfer Tax (LTT). Toronto buyers also pay a Municipal Land Transfer Tax at identical rates — doubling the LTT cost.
First-time buyer rebate: Ontario first-time buyers receive a provincial LTT rebate up to $4,000. Toronto adds a municipal rebate up to $4,475. Rebates apply automatically at closing through your lawyer.
Toronto Municipal LTT applies at the same brackets on top of provincial LTT. On a $700,000 Toronto purchase, combined LTT is approximately $22,950.
Mortgages in Ontario are regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA). Straight renewals at the same Ontario lender are exempt from stress test re-qualification. Switching lenders at renewal requires full requalification at the qualifying rate.
| Value threshold | Tax rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $55,000 | 0.5% |
| Up to $250,000 | 1.0% |
| Up to $400,000 | 1.5% |
| Up to $2,000,000 | 2.0% |
| Above prior bracket | 2.5% |
Good credit (680–749 credit score) qualifies you for most mainstream mortgage products at competitive rates. The rate premium over excellent credit is typically 25 basis points at this tier.
Good credit borrowers typically pay approximately 25 basis points (0.25%) above excellent credit borrowers. On a $500K mortgage, this is approximately $51/month or $612/year in estimated additional interest — based on current benchmark rates.
Improving your credit tier: Improving from good to excellent credit could reduce your rate by approximately 0.25%, saving an estimated $51/month on a $500K mortgage. Over a 5-year term, this represents approximately $3,060 in estimated savings.
To move from good to excellent credit: pay down revolving balances below 20% utilization, maintain all payments on time for 6–12 months, and avoid new credit inquiries in the 90 days before applying.
A 7-year fixed term provides extended rate certainty beyond the typical 5-year cycle. It suits borrowers who are very rate-averse and want to avoid a renewal during a potential future rate spike.
Typical borrower profile: 7-year fixed borrowers typically include those on fixed incomes, retirees, or borrowers who are highly sensitive to payment changes and prefer to plan over a longer horizon.
Rate vs 5-year benchmark: 7-year fixed rates carry a premium over 5-year rates — currently approximately +0.25% above the 5-year fixed broker floor. Lenders charge more for longer commitment periods.
Tradeoff vs 5-year fixed: A 7-year term provides two additional years of rate protection versus a 5-year term at a higher initial rate. IRD penalties for breaking a 7-year fixed early can be very substantial, particularly in a rate-decline environment.
A mortgage refinance in Ontario replaces your existing mortgage to access equity, consolidate debt, or change terms. Refinances require full stress test requalification at 5.85%, regardless of whether you stay with the same lender.
Stress test: All refinances require requalification at 5.85%, even with the same lender. Your maximum refinance amount is limited by your gross income at the qualifying rate — you may not be able to access as much equity as you expect, particularly if your income hasn't grown proportionally with home values.
CMHC insurance: Refinances cannot be CMHC-insured. Any refinance results in a conventional (uninsured) mortgage, even if your original mortgage was insured. Maximum loan-to-value for a refinance is 80% of the property value.
Special considerations: For Ontario refinances: breaking your existing mortgage before maturity triggers a penalty — typically 3 months' interest for variable mortgages and the greater of 3 months' interest or IRD for fixed mortgages. Model the penalty against the rate or equity benefit before proceeding.
For a 7-Year variable mortgage at a contract rate of 3.85%, the federal stress test qualifying rate is 5.85% (the contract rate plus 2%, minimum 5.25%).
On a $500,000 mortgage at the qualifying rate of 5.85% over a 25-year amortization, the monthly payment would be approximately $3,155/month. Lenders apply a 32% Gross Debt Service (GDS) ratio to determine the qualifying income, meaning total housing costs — principal, interest, property tax, and heat — cannot exceed 32% of your gross income.
Stress test calculations are for illustrative purposes only. Your lender will apply the qualifying rate to your specific balance, amortization, and income documentation.
Based on current Bank of Canada benchmark data, 7-Year variable mortgage rates for good credit borrowers (680–749 credit score) in Ontario range from approximately 3.85% (broker floor) to 4.25% (bank average). The posted ceiling is 5.99%. These are illustrative rates based on BoC fallback data — actual rates vary by lender, insured status, and individual profile. Always verify with your lender.
All refinances require requalification at 5.85%, even with the same lender. Your maximum refinance amount is limited by your gross income at the qualifying rate — you may not be able to access as much equity as you expect, particularly if your income hasn't grown proportionally with home values.
With a 7-Year variable mortgage at 5.85% (stress test qualifying rate), a $500,000 mortgage on a 25-year amortization requires approximately $118,375 in gross annual income to qualify at a 32% GDS ratio. Good credit borrowers in Ontario should work with a broker to confirm their specific qualifying income.
A 7-year term provides two additional years of rate protection versus a 5-year term at a higher initial rate. IRD penalties for breaking a 7-year fixed early can be very substantial, particularly in a rate-decline environment.