Mortgage brokers act as intermediaries between borrowers and lenders, helping clients find the best mortgage options based on their financial situation.
Brokers can assist in determining your borrowing capacity by evaluating your income, credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and other financial factors.
Typically, you'll need to provide proof of income, tax returns, bank statements, and information about any debts or assets.
In many situations, yes. While major banks (A-lenders) have strict credit score cut-offs, there are other paths to homeownership:
Alternative & B-Lenders: These lenders look beyond just your credit score, weighing your income stability, down payment, and overall financial picture.
Private Lenders: For more complex situations, private lenders offer short-term financing to bridge the gap while you rebuild your credit to qualify for a mainstream mortgage later.
Timelines depend on your situation and the lender. A pre-approval can often be arranged quickly. The time from application to funding then depends on your documents, the property, the lender's conditions, and your closing date. For a purchase, funding is arranged to align with the closing date in your agreement of purchase and sale. Once we review your file, we'll give you a realistic timeline for your specific situation.
Consider the interest rate, lender fees, and the overall cost of the loan, as well as whether the rate is fixed or adjustable.