The Scarborough mortgage market in 2026
As of 2026, the average home price in Scarborough is roughly $1,010,000 (Ontario, population ~630k). Scarborough is the GTA's most affordable detached entry point and a deeply newcomer and multi-generational market, so combined-income and second-suite files dominate. Lender appetite for legal basement-suite income is often what turns a tight Scarborough application into an approval. At that price, 20% down is about $202,000, and you’d need roughly $189,000 in household income to qualify at the stress-test rate of 7.04% — the greater of your contract rate + 2% or 5.25%. The legal minimum down here is $76,000 (7.5%) — 5% on the first $500,000 plus 10% on the balance — with a default-insurance premium financed on top: a smaller cash outlay now for a slightly higher monthly payment. We model your exact Scarborough numbers — price band, down payment, and the stress test — before you ever write an offer.
