Edmonton family in front of their home — financed with our Private Mortgage program
Private Mortgage

When the bank says no,
equity says yes.

For Canadians with 20%+ equity who need flexibility on credit, income, or property type. Private lenders look at the asset — not just the credit score — and can close fast when traditional banks won't move.

  • BBB Accredited
  • Honest cost disclosure
  • Licensed Alberta brokers

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We've received your information and will be in touch shortly to discuss your private mortgage options.

In the meantime, avoid applying for any new credit — this can affect your score before your pre-approval.

A bridge, not a destination

A private mortgage is short-term financing secured by your home's equity — typically a one- to two-year term, funded by mortgage investment corporations (MICs) or private investors. It exists for situations where the banks won't lend right now, but your situation will improve enough to refinance back to a bank within a year or two.

We only place clients in private financing when we can see a realistic exit strategy. If the path back to A-lender financing isn't clear, we'll tell you so — and help you build that path instead. A private mortgage is a tool. Used right, it solves a temporary problem. Used wrong, it deepens one.

When private financing makes sense

  • Discharged bankruptcy or proposal, rebuilding credit. If your discharge is recent and your credit isn't yet at A-lender bar, private bridges you to where banks will lend again — typically 12 to 24 months.
  • Self-employed with complex income. Some files take longer than banks have patience for — cash-business income, recent incorporation, declining T1 income, partner buyouts. Private lenders look at the property and the story.
  • Properties banks won't touch. Acreages, mixed-use, properties with deferred maintenance, lower-population areas. Private lenders have more flexibility on property type than traditional underwriting.
  • Urgent funding timelines. When a deal needs to close in 7 to 14 days and the bank's process can't move that fast, private can.

Higher cost. By design.

Private mortgage rates and fees are higher than bank pricing. That isn't a markup — it reflects the risk profile of the lenders who fund these mortgages. We're going to tell you exactly what you'll pay, in dollars, before you commit.

Rate ranges. Private first-mortgage rates generally start above prevailing bank rates and increase with loan-to-value and credit risk. Second mortgages cost more again. We'll quote your specific number on your specific file.

Lender fees. Most private lenders charge a one-time setup fee, typically a small percentage of the mortgage amount, deducted at closing. This is in addition to the rate.

Broker fees. Unlike A-lender mortgages where the lender pays us, private deals sometimes involve a broker fee paid by the borrower. If your file has one, we'll disclose it in writing before any application. No surprises.

Legal and appraisal. Private lenders require independent legal representation and a current appraisal — usually $1,500 to $2,500 combined. These are paid to third parties, not to us.

Private only works if you can leave

Going into a private mortgage without an exit strategy is how people get trapped paying these rates for years. We won't let that happen on our watch.

Before we place any client in private financing, we map out the path back to a bank: what needs to change, by when, and how to track it. Credit rebuilding milestones. Income documentation timelines. Property condition improvements. Whatever the specific blockers are, we plan the exit before we sign the entry.

If we can't see a realistic exit within 24 months, we'll tell you so — and we'll work with you on the longer-term path before recommending any short-term private solution.

When private is not the answer

A private mortgage is the wrong tool if any of these apply:

You're in an active consumer proposal or undischarged bankruptcy. Taking on new mortgage debt during these legal proceedings can violate your obligations and put your discharge at risk. We won't place files in this situation — and the lenders who will charge rates that often make the underlying problem worse.

You have no realistic exit strategy. If we can't see a path back to bank financing in 12 to 24 months, paying private rates indefinitely is not a solution — it's a slow erosion of your equity.

Less than 20% equity in the property. Most private lenders require meaningful skin in the game from the borrower. Below 20% equity, options narrow significantly.

The monthly payment will strain your cash flow. Private rates mean higher monthly payments. If you can't comfortably handle them, we need to find a different solution.

Common questions about private mortgages

Often within 7 to 14 days from application to funding, sometimes faster. Speed is one of the main reasons private mortgages exist as a category — banks can take 30 to 45 days, which doesn't work when a deal needs to close immediately or a refinance has a hard deadline.
We start working on the exit 6 months before term end — checking your credit, your income documentation, and the lender landscape. If you're not quite at A-lender qualification yet, we look at B-lender alternatives (credit unions, alt-A lenders) which sit between private and traditional banks. Worst case: a private renewal while we keep building toward A-lender qualification. Best case — and the goal — is a clean refinance to a major bank at significantly lower rates.
Yes. A private mortgage is a registered charge against your property title, just like any bank mortgage. The legal structure is identical — the difference is the lender. Your home remains in your name, you retain all ownership rights, and the lender's only recourse is through the registered charge.
Most private mortgages allow extra payments or full prepayment at any time, often without penalty. This is unusual compared to bank mortgages that lock you in for the term. The flexibility is part of the trade-off for the higher rate — you can refinance the moment you qualify elsewhere.
Most private first mortgages fund up to 75% to 80% loan-to-value, depending on location and property type. Major urban areas allow higher LTV; rural or specialty properties typically lower. For second mortgages (a private charge behind an existing bank mortgage), the combined LTV is usually capped lower again.

Need to talk through your situation?

Every private file is different. Get a frank conversation about whether this is the right tool — and what the path forward looks like.

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