HomebuyingKey 10 questions to ask when getting a mortgage in Canada in 2026
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| Insured ? | 80% LTV ? The rates in this column apply to mortgage amounts between 65.01% and 80% of the property value. The home must be owner-occupied and have an amortization of 25 years or less. You must have purchased it for less than $1 million. These rates are not available on refinances. Refinances require "Uninsured" rates. | 65% LTV ? The rates in this column apply to mortgage amounts that are 65% of the property value or less. The home must be owner-occupied and have an amortization of 25 years or less. You must have purchased it for less than $1 million. These rates are not available on refinances. Refinances require "Uninsured" rates. | Uninsured ? | Bank Rate ? | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Insured 4.64% | 80% LTV 4.19% | 65% LTV 4.19% | Uninsured 4.99% | 4.99% | ||
Insured 3.99% | 80% LTV 3.89% | 65% LTV 3.89% | Uninsured 4.44% | 4.53% | ||
Insured 3.69% | 80% LTV 3.79% | 65% LTV 3.79% | Uninsured 3.9% | 4.39% | ||
Insured 3.84% | 80% LTV 3.99% | 65% LTV 3.99% | Uninsured 4.39% | 4.44% | ||
Insured 3.69% | 80% LTV 3.55% | 65% LTV 3.55% | Uninsured 3.69% | 4.19% | ||
Insured 4.19% | 80% LTV 4.24% | 65% LTV 4.24% | Uninsured 4.89% | 5% | ||
Insured 5.04% | 80% LTV 4.34% | 65% LTV 4.34% | Uninsured 5.24% | 6.09% | ||
Insured 3.9% | 80% LTV 3.95% | 65% LTV 3.9% | Uninsured 3.9% | 5.95% | ||
Insured 3.45% | 80% LTV 3.45% | 65% LTV 3.45% | Uninsured 3.5% | 4.24% | ||
Insured N/A | 80% LTV N/A | 65% LTV N/A | Uninsured N/A | N/A | ||
Insured 5.45% | 80% LTV 5.45% | 65% LTV 5.45% | Uninsured 5.5% | N/A |
There are three main drivers behind mortgage rates in P.E.I. and Canada at large:
The Bank of Canada influences mortgage rates through its policy rate. The Bank’s objective is to keep inflation in the target range of 1% to 3% and preserve the value of the Canadian dollar. It achieves this by setting the target overnight rate, also known as the policy rate.
As of today, the policy rate is 2.25%. The central bank uses the target rate to influence how the banks set their own rates and acts as a barometer for the rate at which banks borrow and lend among themselves.
The higher the inflation, particularly if it’s above 3%, the higher the likelihood of a rate hike. Though inflation does not directly affect mortgage rates, the Bank tends to raise rates to cool down economic activity and force homebuyers to retreat from the market. It’s worth noting that government bond yields, which influence fixed rates, are affected by inflation as well, in addition to factors like oil prices, geopolitical tensions and broader economic conditions (which currently remain uncertain).
Banks, credit unions, monoline lenders and other financial institutions compete to attract borrowers across P.E.I. and beyond. During competitive market conditions, lenders may offer better rates. Shopping around and comparing multiple lenders — including local P.E.I. credit unions like Atlantic Central — can often result in a better mortgage rate.
Before a lender or mortgage broker in P.E.I. will offer you a mortgage loan, they will want to assess whether you are a low-risk borrower or high-risk borrower. To determine this, they will consider a few factors.
1. Down payment
The amount of money you put down on the purchase of your new home is a strong indicator of your personal financial health. Lenders like to work with borrowers who are capable of making a down payment of 20% or more. Showing that you can make your payments reliable will help you get the lowest mortgage rates in P.E.I.
2. Debt service ratios
Having a mortgage payment to make every month is a big financial commitment. On top of that, you will have other bills that will come due each month, e.g. utilities, car loans, credit cards, etc. Knowing that you can comfortably meet these debt obligations every 30 days provides reassurance to brokers, banks and mortgage companies. To gauge whether you can do this, they employ two formulas to compare your monthly income vs. your monthly expenses:
3. Credit Score
Another indicator of the type of risk you represent as a borrower is your credit score. The higher your credit score the less risk you represent as a borrower. There’s no such thing as a bad credit mortgage in P.E.I. If you have a bad credit score, lenders will shy away from giving you a mortgage.
Your credit score is based on four factors: do you make payments on time (both installment payments e.g. car loan and revolving credit payments e.g. credit cards); are you responsible with the credit limits available to you i.e. using less than 20%-30%; have you maintained long-standing relationships with banks and lenders; and have you avoided opening too many new accounts.
4. Income
You’ve probably realized by now that lenders like stability. So it only makes sense that another aspect of a person’s financial picture that they look positively at is when a borrower has a steady income stream and stable job.
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How do these mortgage types differ? Conventional (low-ratio) mortgage requires a down payment of 20% or more, with no mandatory insurance, while a high-ratio mortgage requires a down payment of below 20%, plus mandatory insurance.
Which mortgage type offers cheaper rates? As of August 2026, the average conventional 5-year fixed rate is 4.38%. That’s 5 bps above the average high-ratio 5-year fixed rate, which stands at 4.33%.
| Date | Average Conventional Rate | Average High Ratio Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 09/25 | 4.53% | 4.44% |
| 10/25 | 4.49% | 4.36% |
| 11/25 | 4.38% | 4.33% |
| 12/25 | 4.48% | 4.35% |
| 01/26 | 4.59% | 4.53% |
| 02/26 | 4.55% | 4.53% |
| 03/26 | 4.34% | 4.32% |
| 04/26 | 4.32% | 4.28% |
| 05/26 | 4.36% | 4.21% |
| 06/26 | 4.38% | 4.19% |
| 07/26 | 4.37% | 4.13% |
| 08/26 | 4.39% | 4.08% |
Last Updated: September 1, 2026
How do these mortgage rates differ? A fixed rate mortgage is a rate fixed over a period of time. Interest rates and the mortgage payments remain the same (and consistent) over that mortgage term. A variable rate mortgage is different. While the mortgage payment remains constant, the interest rate payments fluctuate with the prime interest rate.
Which rate is cheaper? As of August 2026, the 5-year fixed rate is 4.65%. That’s 21 bps above the 5-year variable rate, which stands at 4.44%.
| Month | Fixed | Variable |
|---|---|---|
| 09/25 | 4.62% | 4.69% |
| 10/25 | 4.64% | 4.55% |
| 11/25 | 4.65% | 4.44% |
| 12/25 | 4.67% | 4.44% |
| 01/26 | 4.73% | 4.47% |
| 02/26 | 4.67% | 4.44% |
| 03/26 | 4.44% | 4.40% |
| 04/26 | 4.40% | 4.06% |
| 05/26 | 4.34% | 3.90% |
| 06/26 | 4.34% | 3.85% |
| 07/26 | 4.27% | 3.83% |
| 08/26 | 4.26% | 3.81% |
Last Updated: September 1, 2026
New mortgage loan values have been trending upward throughout 2025, reaching the average of $266,086 in P.E.I. and $360,597 in Canada by the end of Q4 2025.
Here are all the average new mortgages loan values in P.E.I. from 2022 to 2025:
| Q1 – 2022 | Q2 – 2022 | Q3 – 2022 | Q4 – 2022 | Q1 – 2023 | Q2 – 2023 | Q3 – 2023 | Q4 – 2023 | Q1 – 2024 | Q2 – 2024 | Q3 – 2024 | Q4 – 2024 | Q1 – 2025 | Q2 – 2025 | Q3 – 2025 | Q4 – 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $368,936 | $371,063 | $363,654 | $325,612 | $320,298 | $314,540 | $338,522 | $327,899 | $323,537 | $332,825 | $349,364 | $343,271 | $356,831 | $350,281 | $360,986 | $360,597 |
| Prince Edward Island | $247,335 | $248,575 | $251,957 | $253,908 | $231,844 | $234,853 | $240,261 | $242,693 | $233,961 | $238,727 | $253,702 | $256,996 | $246,546 | $255,271 | $250,132 | $266,086 |
Scheduled monthly payments have been trending downward throughout 2025, reaching the average of $1,521 in P.E.I. by the end of Q4 2025.
| Q1 – 2022 | Q2 – 2022 | Q3 – 2022 | Q4 – 2022 | Q1 – 2023 | Q2 – 2023 | Q3 – 2023 | Q4 – 2023 | Q1 – 2024 | Q2 – 2024 | Q3 – 2024 | Q4 – 2024 | Q1 – 2025 | Q2 – 2025 | Q3 – 2025 | Q4 – 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,199 | $1,271 | $1,412 | $1,518 | $1,422 | $1,444 | $1,521 | $1,583 | $1,555 | $1,523 | $1,589 | $1,550 | $1,476 | $1,684 | $1,466 | $1,521 |
Closing costs are the one-time fees buyers pay upon purchasing property in P.E.I. Generally, closing costs include:
In P.E.I., the real property transfer tax rate is 1%. Provincial transfer tax exemption waives the property transfer tax for first-time home buyers, though you must have resided in the province for 183 consecutive days before purchase (or have occupied your newly purchased home for at least 183 consecutive days).
Mortgage term: The mortgage term is the amount of time that you commit to your mortgage rate, lender and the terms and conditions of the contract. At the end of the term, you’ll renew your contract with the mortgage company for the remaining principal at a new rate. The process repeats until you’ve paid off the mortgage on your P.E.I. home. A mortgage term can vary in length, from six months to 10 years, with the most common term in Canada being five years.
Amortization period: The amortization period is the amount of time it will take you to pay off your entire mortgage. In Canada, the maximum amortization period is 35 years. But, if your down payment was less than 20%, and you were required to purchase mortgage insurance from the Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC), then your maximum amortization period is 25 years.
The mortgage rate that you qualify for from a P.E.I. bank or other lender will depend on whether you get an open mortgage or a closed mortgage.
With an open mortgage, you have the option to pay it off whenever you want. If you have a closed mortgage and want to pay it off before your mortgage term is over, you will have a penalty to pay.
Are there any advantages to a closed mortgage? Are closed mortgage rates in P.E.I. better?
Yes, a closed mortgage generally offers a lower interest rate than an open mortgage. Meanwhile, open mortgage rates in P.E.I. are usually variable and a little higher.
For most people, their mortgage will be the largest loan they ever get. That’s why getting your mortgage rate at even a quarter percent lower can save you thousands of dollars in interest costs over the lifetime of your mortgage.
Want to know a few more ways to save on your mortgage?
Make sure your mortgage comes with prepayment privileges. Having a mortgage with this feature will give you the ability to put extra money on your mortgage, which will be applied to the principal amount, which in turn will reduce the overall amount of money that you’ll pay out in interest.
Another smart feature to have with your mortgage is portability. When you have a portable mortgage, you can take it with you if you decide to move to another house. This will save you money because you will avoid the charges that would come about if you had to close one mortgage and open a new one.
LowestRates.ca works with top banks and brokers to bring you competitive mortgage rates from lenders in Canada. All you have to do is answer a few questions, and in minutes you’ll be provided with today’s mortgage rates. There’s no obligation, but you can choose to speak with our broker partner to secure your best rate and see if you're eligible for more savings.
Yes, it’s safe — you no longer need to visit a bank branch or mortgage broker’s office in person to apply for a mortgage. It’s becoming increasingly common for Canadians to apply for mortgages online. LowestRates.ca only works with reputable, trustworthy financial institutions. Your credit score won’t be affected and your information is secure. We don’t share your information with anyone unless you want to connect with a mortgage broker. We take care of the heavy lifting by comparing the market for you and can connect you with the best mortgage lenders in the country.
We have a strong selection of lenders on LowestRates.ca including the big banks and many independent providers and we’re adding more lenders all the time. This ensures we’re always delivering you a competitive rate. Even if you’re not ready to commit to anything, you can use our site as a starting point for research (it’s totally free, and you’re under no obligation).
The better informed you are, the more likely you'll negotiate a better deal for yourself. And, really, that’s what we care about the most.

Taras Trofimov
About the Author
Taras is the Content Manager for LowestRates.ca. He has produced thought leadership content for organizations like Constellation Software, Facebook and Yellow Pages as well as outlets like The Globe and Mail, Autoblog and MSN Autos.
HomebuyingQUICK TAKEAWAYS: Your rates, options, and overall borrowing experience varies between a mortgage broker ...
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