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Illustrative exampleConsumer proposal Barrie, ON· Purchase · Active proposal · B-lender

Example: buying a home during an active consumer proposal with a specialty B-lender

Illustrative example, not a real client file. A composite scenario showing how a file like this can be structured. Any rate shown is a dated assumption, not a current rate or offer; see today’s rates on our live board.

An illustrative single-income buyer, 18 months into an active consumer proposal and current on payments, buys through a specialty B-lender rather than waiting for the proposal to be completed.

Borrower (illustrative)
Single income, 18 months into a 5-year consumer proposal, current on trustee payments
Situation
One secured card reporting clean; a bank had declined the file outright
Goal
Buy a ~$480,000 home now rather than wait years for discharge
The challenge

Most lenders want a consumer proposal discharged before they'll consider a purchase, and the borrower's bank declined automatically the moment the proposal appeared on the bureau — regardless of the fact that every trustee payment had been made on time.

With rents rising locally, waiting three-plus years for full discharge meant watching prices move further out of reach.

What we did

We placed the file with one of the few specialty B-lenders that will consider an active consumer proposal, provided the borrower is demonstrably current on trustee payments and has begun re-establishing credit. We documented the payment history, verified income, and confirmed the proposal was reporting correctly on both bureaus.

The lender required a larger down payment to offset the active-proposal risk. We structured it as a short B-lender term — a bridge, not a destination — with a written plan to refinance toward A-lender pricing once the proposal is discharged and credit has seasoned.

The outcome
Purchase price
$480,000
Down payment
25% ($120,000)
Mortgage
$360,000
Assumed rate (illustrative)
~7.19% · 1-yr fixed (B-lender, 2026 scenario)
Lender fee
~1%
Time to approval
~13 days

The borrower bought during the proposal instead of waiting for discharge. The B-lender rate and fee are real, temporary costs — offset by getting into the market sooner — and the file is built to refinance to prime once the proposal discharges and credit matures.

Figures are illustrative scenario assumptions (2026), not current rates, quotes or a record of a funded deal. For current pricing, see today’s rates.

The takeaway

An active consumer proposal is not an automatic no. A specialty B-lender (or private capital) can fund a purchase when you're current on payments, have re-established some credit, and can put more down — with the exit to A pricing planned from day one.

Rules and sources this example relies on

  1. You owe money: consumer proposals (Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy)
  2. Compare debt solutions (Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy)
  3. How long information stays on your credit report (Financial Consumer Agency of Canada)

Illustrative example, not a real client file. This scenario is a composite written to show how a file like this can be structured; it describes no real client, and no real outcome is claimed. Any rate shown is a dated scenario assumption (2026), not a current rate or offer. Approvals, rates, fees and costs depend on your situation and on lender and insurer criteria at the time of application.

In a similar situation?

Every file is different — but the playbook is the same: the right lender, structured properly. Tell us your situation and we'll map your options. Free, no credit pull to start.

FAQ

Common questions

Can I buy a house during an active consumer proposal?
Sometimes — through a specialty B-lender or private lender rather than a bank. You'll generally need to be current on your trustee payments, have at least one re-established trade line, and put more down (commonly around 20–35%). Many files do better waiting until after discharge if there's no urgency.
How much down payment do I need during a proposal?
Commonly around 20–35% on a specialty B-lender purchase, or an equity-based amount on a private file. It's higher than after discharge, which is one reason some buyers choose to wait. Figures vary by lender and file.
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