The Ottawa mortgage market in 2026
As of 2026, the benchmark home price in Ottawa is roughly $695,000 (Ontario, population ~1.0M). Stable government-employee borrower base; strong renewal-shopping volume. At that benchmark, 20% down is about $139,000, and you’d need roughly $114,000 in household income to qualify after the stress test — the greater of your contract rate + 2% or 5.25%. Put 5% down and you’re in for about $34,750 plus a default-insurance premium: a smaller cash outlay now for a slightly higher monthly payment. We model your exact Ottawa numbers — price band, down payment, and the stress test — before you ever write an offer.
