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Mortgage Squad Advisors
Affordability · Ontario

How much mortgage can I afford in Ontario?

Stress-tested at the greater of contract +2% or 5.25% — the same math a federally regulated lender will run on your file. Province-aware: includes land transfer tax and closing costs so you see real cash-needed-at-closing, not just the qualifying mortgage.

Updates as you type| Built on Canadian mortgage rules| Ontario & Canada-wide| Built by FSRA-licensed brokers
Calculator reviewed by the Principal Broker, Mortgage Squad Advisors · FSRA #13737| Updated June 2026
The short answer

How much you can afford isn't set by your real rate — it's set by the stress test, which qualifies you at the greater of your rate +2% or 5.25%. This calculator runs that math with your income, debts and down payment, then adds your province's land transfer tax and closing costs so you see the real cash needed at closing, not just the qualifying mortgage. Enter your numbers above.

Your inputs

$135k
Pre-tax household income
$85k
Uninsured (20%+)
$450
Cards, lines, car, student
3.94%
30 yrs
Estimated maximum purchase in Ontario
$702,818
vs $830,000 provincial benchmark — your max is 15% below the Ontario average.
The qualifying math
Max mortgage$617,818
Monthly P&I (qualifying)$3,652
GDS ratio39.0% (target ≤ 39%)
TDS ratio43.0% (target ≤ 44%)
Stress-test rate5.94%
Cash needed at closing — Ontario
Down payment$85,000
Ontario LTT$10,531
First-time buyer rebate−$4,000
Legal + title + inspection + adjustments$3,353
Total cash needed at closing$94,884

Lifetime cost of your maximum mortgage

Principal vs. interest over the full 30-year amortization at the 5.94% qualifying rate

Total cost
$1,314,642
Principal$617,818 (47%)
Interest$696,824 (53%)
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Deeper analysis

How lenders decide what you can afford

Affordability in Canada is governed by two debt-service ratios, both measured at the qualifying (stress-test) rate — the greater of your contract rate +2% or 5.25%. Your Gross Debt Service (GDS) ratio caps housing costs (principal, interest, property tax and heat) at roughly 39% of gross income. Your Total Debt Service (TDS) ratio caps housing plus every other monthly obligation at about 44%.

Whichever ratio you hit first becomes your binding limit. That is why paying down a car loan or credit-card balance can lift your maximum purchase more than a small income bump — it frees up room under the 44% TDS ceiling. The bars below show exactly where your file lands against both limits.

Want to push the number higher? Compare lenders with our stress test calculator — some provincial credit unions qualify at contract rate — or see the income behind any price with our income-required calculator.

Your debt-service ratios vs. lender limits

Computed at the 5.94% qualifying rate. Staying under both bars is what gets your file approved.

GDS — housing costs ÷ income39.0% / 39% limit
39%
Clears the 39% limit with 0.0 pts to spare.
TDS — housing + all debts ÷ income43.0% / 44% limit
44%
Clears the 44% limit with 1.0 pts to spare.

GDS counts principal, interest, property tax and heat. TDS adds your other monthly debt of $450. A green bar means you clear the limit with room to spare; a red bar means the limit is capping your maximum purchase.

Amortization schedule

How your balance falls — and how the interest/principal split shifts — over 30 years.

$618,000$463,000$309,000$154,000$0Now5y10y15y20y25y30y
YearPrincipal paidInterest paidBalance
1$7,776$36,045$610,042
2$8,245$35,577$601,797
3$8,742$35,080$593,055
4$9,269$34,553$583,787
5$9,827$33,994$573,959
6$10,420$33,402$563,539
7$11,048$32,773$552,491
8$11,714$32,107$540,777
9$12,420$31,401$528,357
10$13,169$30,653$515,188
How this is calculated

Qualified at the stress-test rate of 5.94% (greater of contract +2% or 5.25%).

Property tax estimated at 1.00% of price annually.

Insured/uninsured down-payment minimums (5%/20%) and CMHC premiums are not modelled here.

Common questions

Frequently asked

Don’t see yours? Ask Maya for a quick, accurate answer.

How much mortgage can I afford in Ontario?
In Ontario, the same federal stress test applies: the greater of contract +2% or 5.25%, with GDS ≤ 39% and TDS ≤ 44% of gross income. Toronto buyers face doubled land transfer tax — bring extra cash to closing.
What is the maximum mortgage I can afford in Canada?
Federally regulated lenders qualify you at the greater of your contract rate + 2% or 5.25% (OSFI B-20). Your max is bounded by two debt-service ratios: GDS (housing ÷ income) ≤ 39% and TDS (housing + all debts ÷ income) ≤ 44%. Rule of thumb: 4-5× household income at current rates for insured purchases.
How accurate is this affordability calculator?
We use Canadian semi-annual mortgage compounding (not monthly), the current OSFI B-20 qualifying rate floor of 5.25%, the 39%/44% GDS/TDS ratios most lenders enforce, AND we layer in provincial land transfer tax + closing costs to show real cash-needed-at-closing. Your specific lender may flex 1-2% in either direction based on file strength.
Can I qualify at contract rate instead of the stress test?
Certain provincial credit unions and a few non-federally regulated lenders qualify at contract rate. Particularly common in BC (Vancity, Coast Capital, Prospera) and Ontario (Meridian, Alterna, DUCA). This can unlock 10-20% more purchase power. We'll route you to those lenders if your file is at the edge of stress-test affordability.
What's included in cash-needed-at-closing?
Down payment + provincial LTT + lawyer/notary fees (~$1,800) + title insurance (~$350) + home inspection (~$500) + statement-of-adjustments + minor closing fees. For first-time buyers, applicable rebates are netted off the LTT. The breakdown above shows your specific province's numbers.
What about my down payment from FHSA + RRSP HBP?
Both count fully as down-payment funds. FHSA: up to $40K lifetime tax-free for a first home. RRSP HBP: up to $60K per spouse, repaid over 15 years. Combined household max: ~$200K. See our buying a home guide for the stacking strategy.
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