Is Your Mortgage Up For Renewal In The Next 3-6 Months?
Carola Singer • December 2, 2020
 
 
While this potential second wave of COVID-19 is causing uncertainty in the Canadian economy, understandably, many homeowners are on edge. And although it might feel right to sit tight and see how things pan out, if your mortgage is up for renewal in the next 3-6 months, now is actually the best time to have a conversation with an independent mortgage professional to discuss your mortgage options.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This is especially true if you’ve seen a reduction of income due to the pandemic, taken any government assistance, or if you’ve deferred (or missed) any of your mortgage payments. Any of the above might not impact your renewal, but the whole reason you plan ahead on things like this is to make sure you aren’t left without options by leaving it to the last minute. We haven’t seen the full impact COVID-19 has had on mortgage financing, don’t wait until the last minute to secure your renewal. Planning ahead is the smart move.
 
 Did you know that many Canadians sign the renewal letter they receive in the mail from their current lender without a second thought? They assume that the lender is looking out for their best interest. The truth is, all lenders know this and rarely offer their best rate or terms at the onset of negotiations. And that is exactly what a mortgage renewal is, a negotiation. 
 
 Don’t be led to believe that a mortgage renewal is a simple transaction, that you should just take what your lender offers you, look at all your options. Now, this doesn’t mean just looking at all the terms offered by one lender; it means looking at products from multiple lenders. You do this by working with an independent mortgage professional. 
 
 When you work with an independent mortgage professional, you receive the expertise of a trained banking professional who is working for you and not the bank; at no cost to you!
 
 As we move into an uncertain economic future, you might want to look at mortgage terms and options that might be different from what you’ve gone with in the past. Just because you took a 5-year term previously doesn’t mean you have to go with another 5-year term. You have lots of options. 
 
 Interest rates are at an all-time low, making it a perfect time to ensure you’re getting the best deal on a mortgage. I’d love to help you with that. Contact me anytime! At the very least, by having a quick conversation, we can assess your financial situation and see if the renewal letter you received is a good deal. 
 
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Bank of Canada lowers policy rate to 2¼%.                                                                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   Media Relations                                                                               Ottawa, Ontario                                                                  October 29, 2025                                                                                     The Bank of Canada today reduced its target for the overnight rate by 25 basis points to 2.25%, with the Bank Rate at 2.5% and the deposit rate at 2.20%.                                                                                     With the effects of US trade actions on economic growth and inflation somewhat clearer, the Bank has returned to its usual practice of providing a projection for the global and Canadian economies in this Monetary Policy Report (MPR). Because US trade policy remains unpredictable and uncertainty is still higher than normal, this projection is subject to a wider-than-usual range of risks.                                                                                     While the global economy has been resilient to the historic rise in US tariffs, the impact is becoming more evident. Trade relationships are being reconfigured and ongoing trade tensions are dampening investment in many countries. In the MPR projection, the global economy slows from about 3¼% in 2025 to about 3% in 2026 and 2027.                                                                                     In the United States, economic activity has been strong, supported by the boom in AI investment. At the same time, employment growth has slowed and tariffs have started to push up consumer prices. Growth in the euro area is decelerating due to weaker exports and slowing domestic demand. In China, lower exports to the United States have been offset by higher exports to other countries, but business investment has weakened. Global financial conditions have eased further since July and oil prices have been fairly stable. The Canadian dollar has depreciated slightly against the US dollar.                                                                                     Canada’s economy contracted by 1.6% in the second quarter, reflecting a drop in exports and weak business investment amid heightened uncertainty. Meanwhile, household spending grew at a healthy pace. US trade actions and related uncertainty are having severe effects on targeted sectors including autos, steel, aluminum, and lumber. As a result, GDP growth is expected to be weak in the second half of the year. Growth will get some support from rising consumer and government spending and residential investment, and then pick up gradually as exports and business investment begin to recover.                                                                                     Canada’s labour market remains soft. Employment gains in September followed two months of sizeable losses. Job losses continue to build in trade-sensitive sectors and hiring has been weak across the economy. The unemployment rate remained at 7.1% in September and wage growth has slowed. Slower population growth means fewer new jobs are needed to keep the employment rate steady.                                                                                     The Bank projects GDP will grow by 1.2% in 2025, 1.1% in 2026 and 1.6% in 2027. On a quarterly basis, growth strengthens in 2026 after a weak second half of this year. Excess capacity in the economy is expected to persist and be taken up gradually.                                                                                     CPI inflation was 2.4% in September, slightly higher than the Bank had anticipated. Inflation excluding taxes was 2.9%. The Bank’s preferred measures of core inflation have been sticky around 3%. Expanding the range of indicators to include alternative measures of core inflation and the distribution of price changes among CPI components suggests underlying inflation remains around 2½%. The Bank expects inflationary pressures to ease in the months ahead and CPI inflation to remain near 2% over the projection horizon.                                                                                     With ongoing weakness in the economy and inflation expected to remain close to the 2% target, Governing Council decided to cut the policy rate by 25 basis points. If inflation and economic activity evolve broadly in line with the October projection, Governing Council sees the current policy rate at about the right level to keep inflation close to 2% while helping the economy through this period of structural adjustment. If the outlook changes, we are prepared to respond. Governing Council will be assessing incoming data carefully relative to the Bank’s forecast.                                                                                     The Canadian economy faces a difficult transition. The structural damage caused by the trade conflict reduces the capacity of the economy and adds costs. This limits the role that monetary policy can play to boost demand while maintaining low inflation. The Bank is focused on ensuring that Canadians continue to have confidence in price stability through this period of global upheaval.                                                                                     Information note                                                      The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target is December 10, 2025. The Bank’s next MPR will be released on January 28, 2026.                                                                                     Read the October 29th, 2025 Monetary Report
 
  

What Is a Second Mortgage, Really? (It’s Not What Most People Think)                                                      If you’ve heard the term “second mortgage” and assumed it refers to the next mortgage you take out after your first one ends, you’re not alone. It’s a common misconception—but the reality is a bit different.                                                      A                                  second mortgage                                   isn’t about the order of mortgages over time.                                                                  It’s actually about the number of loans                                  secured against a single property                                  —at the same time.                                                      So, What Exactly Is a Second Mortgage?                                                                                     When you first buy a home, your mortgage is registered on the property in                                  first position                                  . This simply means your lender has the primary legal claim to your property if you ever sell it or default.                                                                                     A                                  second mortgage                                   is another loan that’s added on top of your existing mortgage. It’s registered in                                  second position                                  , meaning the lender only gets paid out after the first mortgage is settled. If you sell your home, any proceeds go toward paying off the first mortgage first, then the second one, and any remaining equity is yours.                                                                                     It’s important to note:                                                                                                 You still keep your original mortgage and keep making payments on it                                  —the second mortgage is an entirely separate agreement layered on top.                                                                                     Why Would Anyone Take Out a Second Mortgage?                                                                                     There are a few good reasons homeowners choose this route:                                                                   You want to tap into your home equity                                      without refinancing your existing mortgage.                                                           Your current mortgage has great terms                                      (like a low interest rate), and breaking it would trigger hefty penalties.                                                           You need access to funds quickly                                     , and a second mortgage is faster and more flexible than refinancing.                                                                                                 One common use?                                  Debt consolidation                                  . If you’re juggling high-interest credit card or personal loan debt, a second                                                      mortgage can help reduce your overall interest costs and improve monthly cash flow.                                                                                     Is a Second Mortgage Right for You?                                                      A second mortgage can be a smart solution in the right situation—but it’s not always the best move. It depends on your current mortgage terms, your equity, and your financial goals.                                                      If you’re curious about how a second mortgage could work for your situation—or if you’re considering your options to improve cash flow or access equity—let’s talk. I’d be happy to walk you through it and help you explore the right path forward.                                                                                     Reach out anytime—we’ll figure it out together.
 
  



