Many Canadians have credit problems because of unexpected life events, such as sickness, job loss, a worldwide epidemic, or just not having enough credit history to cover all their bases. It may take some time to get back on track, which may necessitate postponing the acquisition of a property for the foreseeable future.
However, for other people, waiting isn’t an option since they may already have everything, they need to buy a house (except for good credit).
The good news is that there are choices open to those with poor credit, including the possibility of obtaining a mortgage. Unfortunately, they aren’t always inexpensive. What follows are the most important suggestions we can provide you about acquiring a mortgage with terrible credit.
How To Check Your Credit Score For A Mortgage In Canada?
Your credit score is an essential component of your overall financial picture in Canada. But how exactly can you determine whether or not you have a poor credit score to begin with? So, let’s start covering all the basis by starting from the basics.
What is a credit score?
The credit score in Canada falls between 300 and 900, with the two main agencies in the country being Equifax and TransUnion. Lenders look at this sum to gauge how responsibly you utilised previously granted credit. A good credit score is advantageous since it increases your chances of being approved for the best mortgage rates.
| Score | Credit Health* |
| 680+ | Good |
| 600-679 | Fair |
| Under 599 | Poor |
How do you check your credit score?
Determining your credit score may be done in a few different ways. To begin, you have the option of going to either Equifax or TransUnion and making a payment in order to get your credit score as well as your credit report, which is an in-depth accounting of your credit history.
You should talk to your bank about your credit score even if you don’t want to shell out the cash for a complete credit report. Many financial institutions make it possible for their clients to do a limited number of “soft” credit checks for free each year. A “soft” credit check is one that will show up on your credit report, but no one else will be able to see it except for you, and it will not have any impact on your credit score. After you have determined your credit score, you will have a better sense of whether you will be able to qualify for a conventional mortgage or if you will be required to submit an application for a mortgage for those with poor credit.
It is essential to keep in mind that the credit score you obtain may not be the same as the score that a prospective lender may retrieve on your behalf in order to evaluate your creditworthiness. The methodology that is used to determine your credit score is unique to each credit bureau, and financial institutions often make use of bureaus that are inaccessible to the general public. The majority of the time, the variances are not really significant.
The Cost Of A Bad Credit Mortgage
This is how your credit score might effect your rate of return and your mortgage repayments. Although these rates will not be representative of today’s lowest mortgage rates, the connection between the various credit score categories has remained stable throughout the course of time.
Tips For Getting A Mortgage With Bad Credit In Canada
You checked your credit score and discovered it is not in a good spot. Worrying about this is completely unnecessary. It won’t take you long at all to get a low-priced home if you stick to these five tips that we are sharing below.
1. Raise Your Credit Score
From the data shown above, it is clear that a better credit score has positive effects, as it increases the likelihood of securing a lower mortgage rate and, therefore, cheaper mortgage costs. If you find out that the large banks won’t provide you a mortgage because of your poor credit score, you may want to work on raising it before attempting to obtain a mortgage.
2. Save A Larger Down Payment
There is more to a mortgage application than simply a person’s credit score. Your income, debt load, and down payment amount are also taken into account. The bare minimum for a down payment on a property in Canada is five percent. A bigger initial deposit may be necessary if your credit is less than perfect since lending to you carries a higher degree of risk.
To qualify for a mortgage with terrible credit, you may need a down payment of 20-25%. This greater down payment not only reduces your monthly mortgage payment but also shows potential lenders that you are financially solid enough to be a house owner. That also means you can avoid the cost of mortgage default insurance, which is mandated in Canada for borrowers making less than a 20% down payment. Mortgage default insurance, commonly known as Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) insurance, safeguards the lender in the case of a borrower failure.
3. Find A Bad Credit Mortgage Lender
For a big Canadian bank to accept your mortgage application, you’ll need a credit score of at least 600. The majority of the big Canadian banks will not approve you for a mortgage if your credit score is below 600.
You will need to look for a “B lender” or a “subprime lender” if your credit score is not high enough to meet the bank’s standards for mortgage approval. Trust companies and other similar financial institutions almost never work with customers that have exceptional credit. Even if you haven’t filed for bankruptcy or a consumer proposal in at least two years, you may still have to work with a private mortgage lender. A mortgage broker’s job is to find you a lender who will work with your specific situation. Find a lender on your own if you aren’t dealing with a mortgage broker.
4. Consider A Co-Signer Or Joint Mortgage
In Canada, having a co-signer on your mortgage is a great method to increase your chances of getting a loan even if you have bad credit. With a co-signed mortgage, a third party signs on to the loan to guarantee payment in the event of default. Your co-signer promises to keep up with your mortgage payments if you ever fall behind. Due to the fact that a co-signer is treated as a co-borrower on the mortgage, their income and credit are considered alongside yours. For this reason, having a co-signer on your mortgage will allow you to qualify for better interest rates.
There are a few risks you take on when you rely on a co-signer for a mortgage. By agreeing to be financially responsible for your mortgage, the co-signer takes on substantial financial obligation on your behalf. Your co-credit signer’s and financial stability are tied to your ability to make your mortgage payments on time. This rule ensures that the vast majority of co-signers are acquainted with the signee in some capacity. Your parents may be willing to co-sign a loan with you if you’re buying a house.
Threats to your safety are also a real potential. In most cases, a mortgage lender will need a co-signer to become a co-owner of the property before approving a loan. As a result, their name will be added to the property deed. Disputes may arise amongst co-signers when it comes time to sell the property because of the substantial financial investment each has made in the venture.
5. Work Towards Your Next Renewal
All the bad news about getting a mortgage with bad credit might make it seem like there are no good options. The good news is that when the term of your present mortgage loan expires, you may be able to renegotiate terms, even if your credit is very poor. The average term duration is 5 years, which provides enough time to organize one’s finances.
Do all you can to improve your credit score between the start of your mortgage term and the time it comes up for renewal. If you want to qualify with a better bank, following the aforementioned recommendations might help you get there. A lower interest rate might mean a savings of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.
It’s important to note that there are a few caveats. It is not possible to cancel mortgage default insurance merely by switching mortgage lenders. It is the same with whatever premiums your B lender may tack onto your loan.
Bottom Line
If you’re seeking to secure a mortgage but have bad credit, your options will be more expensive and will likely increase your monthly payment. In order to raise a low credit score, one must first determine what is causing it, and only then can one begin to alter the underlying habits that have led to the low score. To lower your mortgage interest rate and improve your financial standing, you may need to make some changes in your lifestyle.
If you want to buy a house but have bad credit, you still have options. Make sure your monthly mortgage payment won’t put a strain on your budget by reading and doing the arithmetic on all the documents linked with your loan.