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Update on Pre-Approvals and the Stress Test

May 11, 2021
5 mins
A young couple meet with a designer to talk about their home renovations

We received another clarification today about mortgage pre-approvals under the more stringent stress test.

As reported last week, banks currently have the discretion to underwrite uninsured pre-approvals based on today's 4.79% minimum mortgage qualifying rate (MQR).

That's true even if the borrower's home purchase doesn't close until after June 1 — the day the stricter 5.25% stress test begins.

But there's a catch.

"We actually sought clarification from OSFI about this point," an official at the Canadian Banker's Association told us today. "OSFI told us that the key element of whether the old mortgage qualifying rate applies is that there is a signed purchase and sale agreement submitted prior to the [June 1] effective date."

In other words, if your mortgage is pre-approved before June 1, the easier (current) stress test applies, even if your purchase doesn’t close until after June 1. But, you must also have a signed purchase and sale agreement before June 1.

Otherwise, you have to prove you can afford an even higher interest rate — at least 5.25%, assuming OSFI doesn't change this rate.

Today's Featured RatesUpdated 09:59 ET on Oct 09, 2024

Rates are based on a $300,000 mortgage.

card image
3.60%
Term
3 Yr Variable
Loan to value
80.01% to 95%
Insurance
Insured
Rate held until
Jan 12
card image
1.99%
Term
5 Yr Variable
Loan to value
80.01% to 95%
Insurance
Insured
Rate held until
Feb 11
card image
1.67%
Term
5 Yr Fixed
Loan to value
80.01% to 95%
Insurance
Insured
Rate held until
Nov 28

It would have been helpful had OSFI noted this in a consumer FAQ on April 8, when the new stress test was announced. That would have avoided borrower confusion.

Imagine how upset a buyer would be if she were relying on a pre-approval secured under current rules, and then after June 1 her lender advises that she no longer qualifies.

For some, there's a lot riding on details like this. The new stress test reduces buying power by up to 4% or more. That's material for those it affects—over $28,000 on the average home price.

OSFI said last month, "...We estimate that up to 10% of borrowers would have exceeded individual banks' Total Debt Service ratio thresholds" had the new stress test been in place in the third and fourth quarters of 2020.

That's all the more reason to be clear with people about how pre-approvals are stress tested. It almost makes us wonder if the vaguery was intentional to avoid masses of people running out to get pre-approved under the easier stress test — before the new rule kicks in.

Rob McLister

Rob McLister has been informing mortgage consumers and professionals since 2007. In that time, he’s written more than 2,500 mortgage stories for publications ranging from the Globe and Mail — where he presently serves as mortgage columnist — to the National Post, Maclean’s, Canadian Mortgage Trends and RateSpy.com. Regularly quoted throughout the media, Rob is a committed advocate of greater transparency in the mortgage industry. He’s also been a vocal consumer advocate for more sensible mortgage regulation. In 2011, he launched two mortgage fintechs: mortgage comparison website RateSpy.com and digital mortgage broker intelliMortgage Inc. The former is the go-to source of Canadian mortgage news and the only site comparing all publicly advertised prime mortgage rates. The latter is Canada's leading online mortgage provider for self-directed borrowers. Both companies were acquired in 2019 by RATESDOTCA Group Ltd.

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