Compare the best mortgage rates for free as you renew your mortgage.

If your mortgage isn’t on track to be fully paid off by the end of your term, your lender may give you the opportunity to renegotiate the term, type, and interest rate of your existing mortgage. For example, let’s say you signed up for a five-year fixed-rate mortgage. That means that the term of your mortgage is five years. This is the amount of time your agreed-upon interest rate is in effect for. Note that this is different from the amortization period, which is how long it will take to pay off your mortgage in full. If you don’t pay off your mortgage by the end of those five years — which, let’s face it, most people don’t — you’ll likely have the option to renew your mortgage at that time. Mortgage renewals allow for you to adjust things like:

• Mortgage term
• Mortgage type (variable versus fixed)
• Amortization period (how long you’re going to be paying the mortgage off for)
• How much interest and principal you’re paying on the mortgage
• How often you’re making payments

Once your mortgage term ends, a mortgage renewal is not automatic, technically. But the process is typically initiated by your lender without you having to ask — as long as you’re in good financial standing.

According to mortgage renewal rules in Canada, if your mortgage is with a federally regulated financial institution and isn’t going to be paid off by the end of your mortgage term, you should receive a mortgage renewal notice roughly 21 days before your term is set to expire.

You should then get started on the renewal process right away. If you’re looking for advice on your mortgage renewal in Canada, one of our broker or bank partners can tell you how best to proceed.

The timeline for a mortgage renewal will vary by lender. That said, it’s a good idea to get things rolling about 120 days, or 4 months, in advance of your mortgage renewal date, because there’s a good amount of paperwork to complete. It’s best to leave yourself lots of time to get everything organized and preapproved so it’s a seamless transaction. Some lenders might even let you start the process as early as 150 days before your mortgage’s maturity date.

For the most part, you should be able to complete your mortgage renewal online. Again, you want to make sure you leave yourself lots of time for the process, so it’s best to start at least 120 days before your mortgage renewal date.

To begin, don’t just accept what your lender offers you. Carefully review the terms of your mortgage renewal and then see what other mortgage renewal offers are out there. Check out what current mortgage renewal interest rates are like in Canada and then use online comparison websites to compare mortgage renewal rates from different lenders.

At LowestRates,ca, you can compare the best mortgage renewal rates in Canada for free. In fact, we bring you mortgage renewal quotes from 50+ Canadian banks and brokers.

The easiest way to negotiate a mortgage renewal is by not simply accepting the first offer your lender gives you. Review the terms carefully and if you’re not satisfied, take your mortgage renewal form to different lenders and ask them if they can provide you with a better deal. Your current provider might even renew you early at a lower rate to keep you as a customer if it knows you’re going to take your contract elsewhere. The most important piece of information you should be paying attention to during this whole process is the interest rate.

You might be wondering when you’re able to renew your mortgage. The earliest that most lenders will allow you to start the mortgage renewal process is 120 days, or 4 months, from your mortgage renewal/maturity date. This is known as an early mortgage renewal and typically, there is no early mortgage renewal penalty.

If you try to break your mortgage in the middle of your term, you may have to pay a penalty, known as an interest rate differential (IRD).

Our best advice is to start your mortgage renewal as early as your lender allows you to. Any earlier than that and you could be on the hook for charges if you try to break your mortgage early, which is different than a renewal.

There are several steps for a mortgage renewal, and one of those steps is typically a credit check done by your lender to determine whether or not you qualify for a renewal. But keep in mind that your lender already has access to your credit score, since you would have had a hard credit check done at the time you got the mortgage.

Your credit rating may have an impact on the interest rate you’re offered by your lender, among other terms of the renewal. So it’s best to keep your credit rating in good standing by making all your bill payments on time.

While there’s no “mortgage renewal fee” per se, there are fees associated with renewing your mortgage in Canada, particularly if you change lenders, such as:

• Fees to void your old mortgage and register your new one with your new lender
• Fees to transfer the mortgage from your previous lender to your current lender
• Fees to get a new appraisal done on your property to determine its value
• Fees to switch lenders if your mortgage is registered with a “collateral charge,” meaning it was used to secure more than one loan with your lender, such as a line of credit and a mortgage.

As well, if your mortgage was insured and upon renewal your mortgage loan amount or amortization period increases, you might get charged a mortgage insurance premium. If you previously had mortgage insurance with your old lender, let your new lender know to avoid being charged this fee.

All of this information, as well as everything that’s in the original mortgage contract, should be spelled out clearly on the mortgage renewal notice you receive. Make sure you fully understand the terms and conditions before you sign a mortgage renewal agreement.

If you own and have a mortgage for a rental property, you can deduct certain fees related to your mortgage, according to the Government of Canada. But if this is the home you own and live in yourself, then no you can’t deduct fees associated with mortgage renewal.

Yes. The bank, or any other lender for that matter, doesn’t have an obligation to renew your mortgage — either upon the terms you request, or at all. If you’ve demonstrated that you’re an irresponsible mortgage holder, your lender can cancel your mortgage contract. If you are denied, you can apply with a new lender. But keep in mind that you’ll probably need to pass a stress test in order to qualify.

That said, renewing your mortgage should be straightforward if you’ve proven that you’re a responsible borrower. Here are some tips for getting your mortgage renewal approved:

• Make your payments on time and in full every month
• Maintain a good credit utilization ratio

It’s understandable to be confused about these terms. Many people wonder whether or not they should opt for a mortgage renewal or refinance their mortgage. These two terms are similar but they’re not the same.

So, what does it mean to get a mortgage renewal? As we’ve discussed, a mortgage renewal is a chance to renew the existing terms of your current mortgage — everything from amortization period to interest rate to how often you make payments.

The difference between a mortgage renewal and a refinance, however, is that refinancing your mortgage gives you an opportunity to secure a lower interest rate earlier, consolidate your debt and even tap into some of the equity in your home. With a refinance, you can either break your current mortgage and get a brand new one with the same lender or a new lender, take on a new mortgage for more money using a home equity line of credit (HELOC), or blend and extend your mortgage, which means you’ll blend a new mortgage rate with your current one.

The word “remortgage” is sort of a catch-all for both “refinance” and “renewal,” depending on the circumstances.

When your term is up and you negotiate a new term, that’s known as a renewal.

When you break your mortgage early to renegotiate the term details, that’s known as a refinance.

In either instance, you are completing a remortgage.