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Ottawa mortgage rates
Mortgage Rates in Ottawa
A licensed local agent who shops many lenders so you do not have to.
The short answer
Mortgage rates in Ottawa change daily, so no page can show you today’s number, and the rate you actually qualify for is almost never the posted rate you see advertised. The figures further down are a dated example from June 2026, kept to show the shape of the market rather than to quote you. Fixed rates follow Government of Canada bond yields, variable rates follow the Bank of Canada. The lowest advertised number is not always the cheapest mortgage once the break penalty is counted. I shop many lenders, then quote you the lowest rate you genuinely qualify for.
Why the posted rate lies
Ottawa mortgage rates, and why the posted rate is not the real rate
Most Ottawa buyers treat the advertised rate as the rate they will get. The posted rate is usually the high end of what a lender will offer, and your actual offered rate depends on your file. Those charts list the posted mortgage interest rates Ottawa lenders advertise, not the offer your file earns, so treat any number you see there as a starting point rather than a quote. The same forces price mortgages across the province, so Ottawa moves with Ontario, and the low numbers advertised anywhere are still starting points.
Ottawa has its own quirks too. A large share of local buyers are federal and public-service employees with steady income, which lenders price well. The condo-heavy cores like Centretown often see buyers under 20% down (an insured mortgage), while detached homes in Barrhaven and Kanata more often land at 20% or more (uninsured), and that split alone changes the rate you are quoted.
Read this table as an example, not as today’s rates. The figures are from June 2026 and are kept here to show the shape of the market: how terms compare, and how far a real offer can sit from a posted one. They are not a quote, no rate is promised, and I do not update them daily. For a number that is actually yours, ask me and I will pull live pricing on your file. For your real numbers, run them in the Ottawa mortgage calculator or message me.
Rate-by-term snapshot, as of June 2026
| Term | Rate type | Illustrative example (June 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-year fixed | Fixed mortgage rate | in the low-to-mid 4% range |
| 3-year fixed | Fixed mortgage rate | in the low 4% range |
| 5-year variable | Variable mortgage rate | in the mid 4% range |
| 1 / 2 / 4-year fixed | Fixed mortgage rate | quoted on request, by file |
5-year fixed
Fixed mortgage rate
in the low-to-mid 4% range
3-year fixed
Fixed mortgage rate
in the low 4% range
5-year variable
Variable mortgage rate
in the mid 4% range
1 / 2 / 4-year fixed
Fixed mortgage rate
quoted on request, by file
Illustrative examples as of June 2026 to show the shape of the market. An illustration, not a quote, and no rate is promised.
The 5 year fixed mortgage rate is the one most people anchor to, with the 3 year fixed mortgage rate close behind. Variable rate mortgage Canada pricing moves with the Bank of Canada, so mortgage rates Ottawa today can shift before you apply, which is why a rate hold matters (more on that below).
The big decision
Fixed or variable, which is right for you
This is the most common question I hear, and there is not a wrong answer. There are trade-offs.
Fixed mortgage rates
Buy you peace of mind. Your payment and rate are locked for the term, so a rate rise cannot touch you. You pay a small premium for that certainty.
Variable mortgage rates
Often come out ahead over a long enough horizon, but you carry the rate risk. If the Bank of Canada moves, your cost moves.
Term length is its own hedge
A 3-year fixed lets you reset sooner than a 5-year, which suits a buyer who expects to learn the ropes first and decide later.
If you want complete certainty, fixed. If you want to ride the rate and you can sleep through the swings, variable. I will lay out both payment scenarios on a screen-share so you decide with the actual numbers in front of you, and I send clients a plain-language fixed-vs-variable breakdown when we talk. For the full picture, read my guide on fixed vs variable and what I would choose right now.
The right rate is the one that gets you here, with the lowest total cost.
The drivers
What affects your rate
Nobody can promise you a number, because your rate is built from factors that are partly the market and partly your file. Here is what moves it:
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Bank of Canada policy rate sets the prime rate, which drives variable mortgage rates.
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Government of Canada bond yields drive fixed mortgage rates. Fixed follows bonds, variable follows the Bank of Canada.
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Your credit score. A clean, established bureau earns better pricing.
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Down payment and insured vs uninsured. Under 20% down is an insured mortgage and often prices lower than uninsured; at 20% or more you are uninsured. Many buyers are surprised their uninsured rate is higher.
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Amortisation length. A longer amortisation can change the rate and the qualifying math.
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Term length. Each term, from 1 to 5 years, prices differently.
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Property type. A condo, a rental, or a unique property can shift the offer.
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The stress test (qualifying rate). You must qualify at a higher rate than your contract rate, which affects how much you can borrow.
To get your real rate I need a quick picture of your situation: your goal, timing, income, down payment, and budget. From there I shop it. Message me on WhatsApp or start your application and I will come back with real options.
Shop, don't settle
How to get the lowest rate you qualify for
The honest way to get a low rate is to let lenders compete for your business instead of taking the first offer in front of you. As a licensed Mortgage Agent, that is the part I do for you. I shop banks, credit unions and mortgage-only lenders at once, so you see the lowest rates your profile earns in Ottawa side by side, without phoning around yourself.
If you already have an offer, use my mortgage rate negotiation checklist to compare the term, penalty, portability and fees before you ask a lender to match it. And if you are wondering when mortgage rates will go down in Canada, I lay out an honest, dated outlook tied to the Bank of Canada decision dates. To see how much you will actually qualify for, read my guide to the mortgage stress test and how the qualifying rate shapes your approval.
Two things move the needle on the best mortgage rates Ottawa buyers actually get, and neither is luck:
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Shop wide, in one go. One file, many lenders, a single conversation.
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Time the lock. When a good rate appears, hold it (see the rate hold below) so a mid-week jump does not cost you.
I will tell you plainly what I would do in your position, then you decide. No exclusivity agreement, no pressure.
The hidden cost
A rate is not just a rate, the penalty matters
Here is the wedge almost nobody asks about and the most expensive mistake I see. When you compare mortgage rates Ottawa, two mortgages at the same rate are not actually equal once you account for the exit cost.
Most fixed mortgages charge a penalty if you break early, and the way that penalty is calculated varies a lot by lender. The interest-rate-differential (IRD) method at some big banks can cost several times more than a simple three-month interest charge at a credit union or a mortgage-only lender. For the same situation, that can be a difference between roughly three to four thousand dollars and ten to fifteen thousand (illustrative, June 2026, not a quote).
Why does this matter when you are just shopping a rate today? Because life happens. People sell, separate, refinance, or want a lower rate two or three years out, and a smaller penalty keeps you free to move. When two lenders quote me the same rate, I lean toward the lower penalty and check prepayment privileges too.
This is the part aggregator charts and bank ads skip entirely. If you want the full math, see how mortgage penalties work in Ottawa, and run a scenario in the calculator before you sign anything.
Lock it in
Rate holds and pre-approval
A rate hold is a lender's promise to reserve a rate for you for a set window, typically up to 120 days, while you shop or close. Think of it as insurance, not a prediction. If rates rise during the hold, you keep the lower held rate. If rates fall, a good agent works to get you the better one.
A pre-approval pairs naturally with a rate hold. It tells you what you can borrow, flags any credit-bureau errors early, and lets you make an offer with confidence. I pull credit early on purpose, so nothing ugly surfaces after you have an accepted offer.
Bank vs agent
Bank or mortgage agent for your Ottawa rate
People often ask whether they should just go straight to their bank. A bank can only offer one shelf of rates, its own. I am a licensed Mortgage Agent working under Referral Mortgages Inc., which means I can place your file with many lenders and choose on total cost, not on what one branch sells. When buyers search "mortgage broker Ottawa rates", this is the difference they want: an independent agent who works the whole market for you.
A real measure of that breadth: across a recent stretch of funded files (2025 to 2026), my deals spread across thirteen different lenders, banks, credit unions, and mortgage-only lenders. More than seventy percent went somewhere other than the single most-used bank. That is what shopping actually looks like, rather than steering every client to one place.
Choice of lender
One set of rates, its own, and you are left to compare on your own.
Working with Nick
I shop credit unions, mortgage-only lenders, and banks for your lowest total cost.
Whose side the incentive is on
Paid to keep you, so the incentive is the bank, not your best fit.
Working with Nick
I am not tied to any one lender, so nothing pushes me to place you anywhere but where you fit best.
Who makes the first move
Waits for you to accept the renewal letter, often not its best rate.
Working with Nick
I reach out first when switching lenders can save you money.
Who you're working with
Why work with Nick
My job is to take risk off your plate, not to sell you a number. Here is how I protect you:
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One person, your whole file. Only I touch it, so when you message me I already know where things stand. No email of mine sits longer than about 30 minutes in business hours, and I follow up with your lender at least twice a day during an active file.
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Broker complete about three weeks before closing, so your final weeks are about the house, not the financing.
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Chosen on total cost. I lean toward the lowest penalty when rates tie, and my only incentive is your best fit.
I serve Ottawa and the surrounding area, including Orléans, Kanata, Hintonburg, Stittsville, and the Glebe, from my office on Carling Avenue (K1Z 7K8). I am licensed in Ontario. If you are in a specific area, see my pages for a mortgage agent in Orléans, Kanata, or Stittsville. Buying for the first time, renewing, or refinancing each comes with its own rate questions, so there are dedicated pages for buying a home and getting pre-approved, first-time buyers, renewals, and refinances. Curious how the whole thing runs? Here is how it works.
Nick Bachusky · Mortgage Agent Level 1 · Referral Mortgages Inc. · FSRA brokerage licence #13316
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Verified Google Reviews
Real stories from Ottawa clients
4.9 stars from 64 Google reviews left by clients I have worked with across Ottawa.
Get in touch
Get in touch with Nick
Getting a mortgage does not need to be stressful. Leave your details and I reply within about 30 minutes during business hours.
Still wondering?
Frequently asked questions
What are current mortgage rates in Ottawa?
Mortgage rates in Ottawa change daily, and the rate you are offered depends on your file rather than the posted number. Fixed rates follow bond yields and variable rates follow the Bank of Canada. The rate table on this page is a dated June 2026 example, not a live feed, so the only way to know your real rate is to have your file shopped, which I do for you.
Should I get a fixed or variable mortgage right now?
Both can be the right call, it depends on you. Fixed gives you a locked payment for a premium, so you always know what you owe. Variable often comes out ahead over time but you carry the rate risk. It comes down to how much rate uncertainty you can live with. I will show you both payment scenarios so you can choose with the real numbers in front of you.
How do I get the best mortgage rate in Ottawa?
You let lenders compete instead of taking the first offer. As a licensed Mortgage Agent I shop many lenders together, so you see the lowest rate your profile earns. Then I help you compare the full cost, including the break penalty, not only the headline number.
Do mortgage rates change daily?
Yes, they can. Fixed rates move with Government of Canada bond yields, which trade every day, and variable rates move when the Bank of Canada changes its policy rate. That is why a rate you see today may differ next week, and why a rate hold is useful while you shop or close.
What is a good mortgage rate in Ontario right now?
A good rate is the lowest one your file genuinely qualifies for, not a number someone else got. Rates differ by credit, down payment, insured versus uninsured, term and lender, and they move week to week. Rather than chase a figure you saw online, let me shop your actual file and tell you where you land.
Is there a cost to using a mortgage agent?
No. You do not pay me a fee. My only incentive is finding you the lowest rate and the right fit for your situation. You get the shopping, the advice, and the file management at no charge.
What is a mortgage rate hold and how long does it last?
A rate hold reserves a rate for you, typically up to 120 days, while you shop or close. If rates rise during the hold, you keep the lower held rate. Treat it as insurance rather than a forecast of your final rate. I set up holds so a mid-shop rate jump does not cost you.
When will mortgage rates go down in Canada?
Nobody can promise a date, and I will not pretend otherwise. Rates move with the Bank of Canada and bond markets, which respond to inflation, jobs, and global events. What I can do is monitor your rate against the market and reach out first when a switch makes sense, even after your mortgage closes.
Ready to see your real rate?
Get a dated, no-pressure rate quote built around your actual file.
4.9 stars across 64 Google reviews · Replies within about 30 minutes in business hours · 14 years as a licensed agent · Office on Carling Avenue, Ottawa.
Nick Bachusky · Mortgage Agent Level 1 · Referral Mortgages Inc. · FSRA brokerage licence #13316. Rate and penalty figures on this page are dated illustrative examples (June 2026), not quotes or guarantees.