Compare the best current mortgage rates in Sarnia for free.

Compare 20+ mortgage rates from top banks and brokers with LowestRates.ca.

Today’s lowest mortgage rates in:

3.40%

5-Year Variable

3.99%

5-Year Fixed

Get 20+ mortgage quotes from top banks and lenders.

20,181 Canadians

have compared rates and saved money over the last 24 hours

What our users say:

March 22
The info was pertinent
The info was pertinent
Muni Oudit
March 6
got a call very fast
got a call very fast
David Bulhoes
October 8
Easy process, good quote found
Did an online quote and got a good rate. Went ahead and got in touch with the su...
Online Insurance Quote Seeker
October 6
Satiifed Customer
Very fast. Saved time. Efficient.
Doug Howes
October 5
Great CS
Great CS, clear attention. Good rates
Ivan Monroy
October 4
Miss Martin helped me out wonderfully
Miss Martin helped me out wonderfully! Thank you all!
Jonathan
October 3
Pleasure to talk to and deal with..
Pleasure to talk to and deal with... was straight forward with everything and wa...
Chris Flegg
October 3
Service professional was very nice and…
Service professional was very nice and helpful. Quick and easy process.
Beth Morrison
October 3
Christine B was awesome to deal with
Christine B was awesome to deal with. She explained everything I had questions a...
Michael Kirkham
October 3
The agent is very knowledgeable and…
The agent is very knowledgeable and experienced. He is also very respectful and ...
Varick Shand
October 1
VERY NICE CONVERSATION WITH MORE…
VERY NICE CONVERSATION WITH MORE EXPLANATION
Shemsedin Sheko
October 1
Quick and professional
Quick and professional
Abdul shakoor Abdul jalil
October 1
The guy was professional and prompt
The guy was professional and prompt, the entire call was only 5 mins to get ever...
Florin Palade
September 30
Very professional
Very professional
Rafiqul Islam
September 30
Tyler was a great help.
Tyler was a great help.
Carrie Beaudry
September 29
I really had a great experience talking…
I really had a great experience talking to Kate, she helped me tremendously and ...
Cynthia Rose
September 29
Answered all my questions and got me a…
Answered all my questions and got me a good quote
Ryan Catherwood

How comparing mortgage quotes works. Hint: it’s free!

Compare

Next, we’ll show you quotes from 50+ Canadian banks and brokers. It’s free, with no commitment.

Save

When you find the best quote, secure your Sarnia mortgage rate by talking to a licensed broker or agent.

The best current mortgage rates in Canada

Check out today's best mortgage rates in Canada by type and term.

Rates are based on an average mortgage of $300,000
 Insured ?

The rates in this column apply to borrowers who have purchased mortgage default insurance. This is required when you purchase a home with less than a 20% down payment. The home must be owner-occupied and the amortization must be 25 years or less.

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 ?

The rates in this column apply to purchases over $1 million, refinances and amortizations over 25 years. More info on the differences between insured and uninsured rates.

Bank Rate ?

Bank Rate is the mortgage interest rate posted by the big banks in Canada.

 
1-year fixed rate
Insured
4.64%
80% LTV
4.19%
65% LTV
4.19%
Uninsured
4.99%
4.99%
 
2-year fixed rate
Insured
3.99%
80% LTV
3.89%
65% LTV
3.89%
Uninsured
4.44%
4.53%
 
3-year fixed rate
Insured
3.69%
80% LTV
3.79%
65% LTV
3.79%
Uninsured
3.9%
4.39%
 
4-year fixed rate
Insured
3.84%
80% LTV
3.99%
65% LTV
3.99%
Uninsured
4.39%
4.44%
 
5-year fixed rate
Insured
3.69%
80% LTV
3.55%
65% LTV
3.55%
Uninsured
3.69%
4.19%
 
7-year fixed rate
Insured
4.19%
80% LTV
4.24%
65% LTV
4.24%
Uninsured
4.89%
5%
 
10-year fixed rate
Insured
5.04%
80% LTV
4.34%
65% LTV
4.34%
Uninsured
5.24%
6.09%
 
3-year variable rate
Insured
3.9%
80% LTV
3.95%
65% LTV
3.9%
Uninsured
3.9%
5.95%
 
5-year variable rate
Insured
3.45%
80% LTV
3.45%
65% LTV
3.45%
Uninsured
3.5%
4.24%
 
HELOC rate
Insured
N/A
80% LTV
N/A
65% LTV
N/A
Uninsured
N/A
N/A
 
Stress test
Insured
5.45%
80% LTV
5.45%
65% LTV
5.45%
Uninsured
5.5%
N/A

How mortgage rates are determined in Sarnia and what influences them

There are three main drivers behind mortgage rates in Sarnia and Canada at large:

The Bank of Canada policy rate

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.

Inflation and economic conditions

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).

Lender competition

Banks, credit unions, monoline lenders and other financial institutions compete to attract borrowers across Sarnia and beyond. During competitive market conditions, lenders may offer better rates. Shopping around and comparing multiple lenders — including local Ontario credit unions like Meridian Credit Union — can often result in a better mortgage rate.

 

Factors that affect your Sarnia mortgage rate

In Canada, the desire to own a home is real. But the government has imposed limits on how you can make that happen. Here are the key factors that can affect bank or broker mortgage rates in Sarnia.

1. Down payment

The government of Canadahas a sliding scale of rules regarding down payments:

  • A home that costs $500,000 or less: the minimum down payment is 5% of the purchase price
  • A home that costs $500,000 to $1.5 million: the minimum down payment is 5% of the first $500,000 of the purchase price, and 10% for the portion above the purchase price above $500,000
  • A home that costs $1.5 million or more: the minimum down payment is 20% of the purchase price

2. Debt service ratios

There are other factors that go into calculating if you qualify for a mortgage for that Sarnia dream home. Debt service ratio is one of them. Essentially, lenders assess your ability to pay the mortgage off, based on your other expenses.

  • Gross debt service ratio (GDS): With GDS, the lender takes a look at all the expenses you have related to your housing — a mortgage, property taxes utilities — and divides that total amount by your gross annual income. They do not want this figure to exceed 39%.
  • Total debt service ratio (TDS): TDS is the other tool used by lenders, and it is broader: it looks at housing costs and other debts that you have such as credit cards, student loans, or car payments. All of these payments cannot represent more than 44% of your gross annual income.

4. Credit score

Your credit score is also something that matters when it comes to getting a mortgage. Lenders want to see that you have met your financial obligations, made the payments that were necessary to credit cards, and weren’t maxing out your cards all time. Typically, they want to see that you’re borrowing less than 20 to 30% of your available credit limit. Bottom line: a bad credit score can pose problems when you’re shopping for mortgages.

5. Employment and income

And of course, there is employment status. It makes sense that if you can’t show a steady stream of income, then a lender is going to worry that you won’t be able to pay back the money they lend you. Things like salary, if the work is full time, part time, or seasonal, along with length of employment, all matter. If you have an investment property, the income generated from that counts. Someone who is self-employed has to provide additional documentation to prove their income.

Why Canadians use LowestRates.ca to compare mortgage rates online

By entering a few details about your home, you can compare the quotes from the best home insurance providers in your area. That’s all it takes to save hundreds of dollars per year on your home insurance policy — just like that.

Sarnia conventional vs. high-ratio 5-year fixed mortgage rates

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 September 2026, the average conventional 5-year fixed rate is 4.49%. That’s 40 bps above the average high-ratio 5-year fixed rate, which stands at 4.09%.

Conventional 5-year fixed mortgage rates vs. high ratio 5-year fixed mortgage rates in Ontario

DateAverage Conventional RateAverage High Ratio Rate
09/25 4.50%4.42%
10/25 4.46%4.36%
11/25 4.35%4.31%
12/25 4.44%4.32%
01/26 4.49%4.49%
02/26 4.47%4.43%
03/26 4.27%4.20%
04/26 4.24%4.23%
05/26 4.38%4.22%
06/26 4.48%4.24%
07/26 4.47%4.14%
08/26 4.49%4.09%

Last Updated: September 1, 2026

Sarnia 5-year fixed vs. variable mortgage rates

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 September, the 5-year fixed rate is 4.30%. That’s 41 bps abow the 5-year variable rate, which stands at 3.89%.

5-year fixed vs. 5-year variable mortgage rates in Ontario

MonthFixedVariable
09/25 4.60%4.64%
10/25 4.62%4.51%
11/25 4.64%4.40%
12/25 4.64%4.41%
01/26 4.71%4.44%
02/26 4.64%4.43%
03/26 4.33%4.38%
04/26 4.38%4.06%
05/26 4.41%4.05%
06/26 4.45%4.01%
07/26 4.34%3.93%
08/26 4.30%3.89%

Last Updated: September 1, 2026

Average value of new mortgage loans in Sarnia

New mortgage loan values have been trending upward throughout 2025, reaching the average of $441,394 in Ontario and $360,597 in Canada by the end of Q4 2025. This is still well below the peaks experienced in Q2 2022, when average values reached $375,987 in Ontario and $371,063 in Canada.

Here are all the average new mortgages loan values in Ontario from 2022 to 2025:

 Q1 – 2022Q2 – 2022Q3 – 2022Q4 – 2022Q1 – 2023Q2 – 2023Q3 – 2023Q4 – 2023Q1 – 2024Q2 – 2024Q3 – 2024Q4 – 2024Q1 – 2025Q2 – 2025Q3 – 2025Q4 – 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
Ontario$466,931$475,987$462,701$418,808$406,427$405,753$434,005$426,021$421,795$427,078$440,052$432,237$441,074$438,188$445,693$441,394

Source: Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation

Average scheduled monthly payments for new mortgage loans in Sarnia 

Scheduled monthly payments have been trending downward throughout 2025, reaching the average of $2,402 in Ontario by the end of Q4 2025. This is well below the peaks experienced in Q4 2023, when average scheduled monthly payments reached $2,770 in Ontario.

Q1 – 2022Q2 – 2022Q3 – 2022Q4 – 2022Q1 – 2023Q2 – 2023Q3 – 2023Q4 – 2023Q1 – 2024Q2 – 2024Q3 – 2024Q4 – 2024Q1 – 2025Q2 – 2025Q3 – 2025Q4 – 2025
$1,966$2,153$2,392$2,449$2,494$2,444$2,634$2,770$2,751$2,646$2,664$2,524$2,526$2,452$2,472$2,402

Source: Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation

Sarnia closing costs and land transfer tax

Closing costs are the one-time fees buyers pay upon purchasing property in Sarnia. Generally, closing costs include:

  • Land or transfer tax
  • Lawyer fees
  • Inspection fees
  • Homeowner’s insurance
  • Appraisal fees

Land transfer tax calculations for a $500,000 property in Sarnia without a rebate are:

  • 0.5% on the first $55,000
  • 1% on the portion between $55,000 and $250,000
  • 1.5% on the portion between $250,000 and $400,000
  • 2.0% on the portion between $400,000 and $2,000,000
  • 2.5% on the amount above $2,000,000
 

What is a First Home Savings Account (FHSA)?

A first home savings account (FHSA) is a registered plan that allows first-time home buyers to save to buy or build a qualifying first home tax-free, up to certain limits.

FHSA participation room in the year the account is opened is $8,000.

Your questions about Sarnia mortgages, answered.

What’s the difference between a mortgage term and an amortization period?

A mortgage term is the number of years in which you will be paying a specified interest rate, whether it’s fixed or variable. Another way of describing this would be the duration of your contract with the lender. You agree to pay a certain amount of annual interest for a certain number of years — those years amount to the mortgage term — and the lender agrees to honour those terms. The amortization period is the total amount of time that it would take you to pay off the entire mortgage amount. In Canada, it’s most common to secure a five-year mortgage term, over a 25 year amortization period.

What’s the difference between an open mortgage vs. a closed mortgage?

This is important to understand, especially if you want the option to fast track payments on your mortgage. An open mortgage is one that gives you the flexibility to pay more of your mortgage off, either through larger monthly payments than originally agreed upon, or with lump sums.

Closed mortgages, on the other hand, don’t give you that flexibility at all. In fact, you could face financial penalties if you try to pay your loan off more quickly. That’s because paying a mortgage off more quickly means that the lender is making less than they had originally calculated in terms of interest payments.

How much does getting a lower interest rate matter in Sarnia?

Getting the lowest mortgage rate in Sarnia is one, albeit important, factor to consider when deciding on the mortgage rate that is best for you. Sarnia has wooed you, but make sure to assess things like pre-payment privileges, which allow you to pay part or all of your loan ahead of schedule. Some mortgages will charge penalties to do that, because the lender is not going to be making as much money on interest if the loan takes less time to pay off. This kind of flexibility is important to keep in mind because plans change or we outgrow dream homes quicker than we thought and may need to sell a property and end a mortgage contract.

This is also where something called portability comes into play. Portability is the ability to transfer your existing mortgage and all the terms associated with it to a new property, without incurring any penalties. Not all lenders allow for that. It’s worth asking about, especially if you don’t know exactly what the near future may hold for you.

How are mortgage rates determined on LowestRates.ca?

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.

Is it safe to get a mortgage online?

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.

How do I know I’m getting the lowest rate?

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

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.

Mortgage news

Read More Like This