One of the most significant aspects to consider when getting a suitable mortgage is our credit score. What does it take to purchase a home with the least acceptable credit score?

What Credit Score Do I Need To Buy a House?

Your credit score ranges from 300 to 900. Every lender will have different requirements regarding the minimum credit score required to be eligible for a mortgage and what establishes a "good" score.

However, as a rough rule of thumb, traditional lenders, which include the Big Six Banks, usually ask for at least 680 credit scores as minimum requirements. With less than a 20% down payment, CMHC-insured mortgages need a minimum of 600 credits.

The higher your credit score, the more likely that you are both eligible for the loan and that interest rates will be lower.

Can I Get a Mortgage With A Bad Credit Score?

While having a good—or even excellent—credit score increases your likelihood of getting approved for a home loan, it is still possible to secure mortgage financing with poor scores in these cases. Here are some strategies on how you can qualify if you don’t have perfect credit:

Increase your down payment. The more cash you have up front, the less important your personal credit rating becomes to lenders.

Lower your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Your DTI is how much debt you have relative to your income. If you have too much DTI, then this means it’s much harder for you to make all mortgage payments should an emergency come up suddenly. Then again, if your DTI could be lower, then making regular monthly repayments won’t cause any difficulties under any circumstances.

Change your expectations. You may not be able to borrow as much money as you want due to bad credit ratings. In order to get approved for the loan, buying something cheaper than you initially wanted or desired may be necessary.

Look at alternative lenders around town. When considering a mortgage, you might initially think of the Big Six banks, but these traditional lenders usually have high qualifying standards. In this case, alternative lenders include your local credit unions, mortgage or loan companies, and private lenders.

Consider a co-signer. If you can’t get a mortgage on your own, adding someone else’s name as a co-signer may help since they will vouch for you by demonstrating that they believe in your ability to pay off all monthly mortgage installments. However, being a co-signer is a big responsibility, so make sure you understand the terms before you decide to go through with it.

Add a guarantor. Like having a co-signer, there is someone who will guarantee that you can repay the mortgage loan. However, they take a different level of responsibility. 

Where To Check Your Score

There are two leading consumer agencies in Canada where we can check our credit scores: Equifax and TransUnion. One free credit report per year is available on request. Additionally, many banks offer free credit scores as well.

How Your Credit Score Affects Your Mortgage Rate

When assessing your eligibility for the mortgage programs, lenders do not only tell you which loan is best. Additionally, when choosing a mortgage program that suits you, banks assess borrowers by their credit scores. To know whether they will be able to default or not. A higher score indicates a lesser risk of missing payments and foreclosures. Hence, it becomes easier to get approved for lower interest rates.

In most cases, excellent or outstanding ratings range from 670-850+. Thus, home buyers are likely to receive some of the most favorable mortgage rates.

You must be wondering whether 2024 could be a time to acquire a property in the Canadian housing market.

You're not alone. According to Wahi's recent 2024 Homebuyer Intentions Survey, almost a quarter (24%) of Canadians aged between eighteen and thirty-four are likely or might buy homes by 2024. Additionally, twenty-two percent of those between the ages of thirty-five and fifty-four are considering it this year.

Consider these factors when making one of life's major purchasing decisions.

Is 2024 a Good Time to Buy a House?

Currently, borrowing costs are high, but housing prices have reduced from all-time highs experienced during the pandemic. Additionally, prices will inevitably remain relatively low for most of the first half of this year, thus attracting buyers. Nonetheless, affordability continues to be a significant concern nationwide, particularly in Ontario and B, C, where RBC's Hogue points out that "crushing home ownership costs have significantly depressed home resales." So, should you buy a house now?

Maybe yes, maybe no.

Considering long-term trends suggest that housing values will continue rising, first-time buyers can feel an added urgency before it becomes "too late." Let's examine two scenarios to see how interest rates and purchase prices affect your monthly budget. In both cases, I'm assuming a minimum down payment.

Understanding Mortgage Dynamics

But what if the price goes up? With a 4.75% annual interest rate, your monthly mortgage payment is going to be huge. Moreover, you might need more money to afford this higher monthly bill. However, trying to time the housing or stock markets is impossible, and these forecasts are not written in stone. It would be best to start by putting your financial house in order when considering a house.

Insights from Real Estate Expert Jeevikka Shah

This is a significant financial decision. The earlier you buy a house, the earlier the possibility of building equity. However, owning comes with many financial responsibilities that can drain savings if not appropriately handled.

When buying a house, consider the mid-2024 period, especially if you want to wait for lower mortgage charges and live in a market with less sensitivity to price swings. Therefore, it is crucial that before buying your home, a real estate expert like Jeevikka Shah, who knows both the process of buying houses and the real estate market, gets involved to make an informed decision based on your financial status and your satisfaction.