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Best Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) mortgage rates

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motusbank

$1,283

Scotiabank

$1,283

TD Bank

$1,283

MCAP

$1,283

Meridian Credit Union

$1,283

Canadian Lender

$1,283

Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC): FAQ

How do payments on a home equity line of credit (HELOC) work?


What happens if I don’t use my HELOC? Can I cancel it?


Should I close an unused HELOC?


How long do you have to use a HELOC?


What are the downsides of a home equity line of credit (HELOC)?


What is the maximum amount I can borrow with a HELOC?


Why is my HELOC payment so high?


Does a HELOC affect my current mortgage?


How is getting a HELOC different from refinancing your mortgage?


What is the difference between a HELOC and a home equity loan?


Historical home equity line of credit (HELOC) rates

From 2012 - Today

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Compare current mortgage rates across the Big 5 Banks and top Canadian lenders. Take 2 minutes to answer a few questions and discover the lowest rates available to you.

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What is a home equity line of credit (HELOC)?

Your guide to home equity lines of credit

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is a revolving line of credit that allows you to borrow the equity in your home at a much lower interest rate than a traditional line of credit. By taking out a mortgage with a HELOC feature, you’ll have access to a pre-approved amount of cash within your mortgage. When you use the money from a HELOC, you’ll have to pay the interest on it on top of your regular mortgage payments. HELOCs come with variable rates that are usually higher than those for regular variable-rate mortgages. 

A home equity line of credit is one of the best ways to access the equity you’ve built up in your home, and a low-cost alternative to other lines of credit like credit cards or personal loans. However, it’s important to know some details about HELOCs before you decide to take one out.

Here's everything you need to know about getting a HELOC in Canada. When you're ready, use the tools at the top of this page to receive personalized quotes from multiple providers.

 

March 6, 2024: Highlights from the Bank of Canada announcement

On March 6, 2024, the Bank of Canada held the target for the overnight rate unchanged at 5.00%.

  • Multiple key economic indicators persuaded the Bank to hold its policy rate for the fourth month in a row, including soft GDP numbers, weakening consumer spending and falling wage growth.
  • While the Bank’s commentary mentioned that inflation was abating, it also noted that January’s CPI of 2.9% was still above its 2% target, and stated that higher rates would be needed for longer in order to get inflation down to its goal rate.
  • Canadians with home equity lines of credit (HELOC) and variable mortgage rates will be glad to see their rates remain stable, but will definitely be looking for hints that rates will come down in the foreseeable future.
  • Fixed mortgage rates aren’t tied to the Bank of Canada’s rate decisions, but rather to the bond market. While the Bank’s commentary does have the ability to shift bond yields, as this rate hold was widely expected, the bond market has remained relatively stable. We can thus expect that most lenders will hold fixed mortgage rates steady for the time being.
  • This announcement could potentially elicit a rise in home prices. Despite the Bank’s stance remaining essentially unchanged over the last several months, the mere prospect of rate cuts this year has brought buyers off the sidelines and caused housing demand to rebound noticeably in many markets.

WATCH: March 6, 2024 Bank of Canada announcement

February 2024: Mortgage market update

The last few months have been volatile for the Canadian mortgage market, and the start of 2024 has shown no signs of calming down. Historically high bond yields have resumed climbing, and are exerting upward pressure on fixed mortgage rates, while variable mortgage rates remain elevated following 10 rate hikes by the Bank of Canada between March 2022 and July 2023 that took the Overnight Lending Rate to 5%. Here’s what today’s Canadian mortgage shopper should be aware of:

Real estate update: On February 14, 2024, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) came out with the latest Canadian housing market statistics for the month of January. The most recent numbers show that the market is seeing signs of recovery after the last sluggish months of 2023. A grand total of 25,540 residential properties were sold across Canada in January, representing a 3.7% monthly increase, and up by a noteworthy 22% year over year. The number of new listings rose slightly in January by 1.5%, not enough to alleviate the additional pressure brought by increased demand. The average home price in Canada stood at $659,395, marking a 7.6% annual increase. Renewed demand has caused market conditions to veer towards the “seller-friendly” end of the balanced market spectrum. January’s sales-to-new-listings ratio (SNLR) came in at 58.8%. The SNLR, which CREA uses to gauge competition in the marketplace, is considered balanced with a ratio between 40-60%. Above and below that range reflect sellers’ and buyers’ markets, respectively.

Read more: Canadian realtors hopeful sales growth will continue

CPI update: 2024 is starting off with some good news for consumers on this front, as the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) reading from Statistics Canada for the month of January came in at a welcome 2.9%. This was well below what many were expecting, and down substantially from December’s reading of 3.4%. In fact, this is the first month since March 2021 where the CPI rose by less than 3%. A major contributor to this lower reading was weakening gas prices, which have been steadily softening for the past five months. They stood at 3.2% in January, down from 3.5% the month before. Food costs were also a key factor, as they were down markedly to 3.4% (compared to 4.7% in December). With this most recent CPI reading falling within the Bank of Canada’s inflation target range of 1 - 3%, the Bank is almost certain to hold rates steady for the near future. Should inflation keep trending downward, many experts are predicting that the central bank will start cutting rates as early as the second quarter of 2024.

Read more: Inflation falls to 2.9% in January

 

2024 Housing market forecast

CREA updated its projections for 2024 and 2025 to align with increasing expectations of rate cuts to come and pent-up buyer demand. The new forecast predicts that a total of 489,661 residential properties will be sold in 2024, an increase of 10.1% over the previous year. Sales growth is projected to be most robust in areas where there has been consistently high housing demand, like Alberta. However, even markets that have suffered from historically low levels of demand are expected to experience a rebound, such as Ontario, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Increased demand will push the average home price in Canada up by 2.3% to $694,173 in 2024, with the most significant growth forecast for Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. Home prices in BC and Ontario will remain largely flat, however. 

2025 is expected to see further recovery in the housing market, with sales projected to hit 525,498 homes (an annual increase of 10.1%), and the average home price in Canada expected to increase by 4% to $722,063.


Home equity line of credit (HELOC) features

All home equity lines of credit are different, so it's important to consider the features of any HELOC that you’re considering taking out. Below are some of the features that can differ between different HELOC products: 

  • Minimum and maximum amounts: The minimum amount of a HELOC varies from bank to bank, and some institutions may not offer the product at all. The maximum HELOC amount is calculated as 65% loan-to-value of your home, as shown in the sample calculations below.
  • Revolving balance: HELOCs are described as having a revolving balance, because borrowing multiple times within the account for any amount up to the allowable credit limit does not require writing a new loan document. The credit limit can also be increased as the equity in your home grows if your HELOC is combined with your mortgage (see the following section, Types of HELOCs, for more details).
  • Sub-divide lines: It is sometimes possible to divide up your HELOC into smaller portions through different sub-accounts. An example of where this may be used is if you wanted to draw out equity to invest in the stock market. In this case, the interest you pay on borrowed money is tax-deductible, so having a separate account makes it easier to track the money.
  • Option to convert to fixed: You can sometimes convert a portion of your outstanding borrowed HELOC funds to a fixed rate, which you will then pay like a standard mortgage.
  • Second position HELOC: This means that you can hold your mortgage with one bank and get a HELOC with another bank. A HELOC is not necessarily a “second mortgage". A "first" or "second" mortgage is used to refer to the loan's claim position. A HELOC is often second position because there is another mortgage on the property at the time. However, it is possible to have a HELOC in first position. HELOCs usually have higher interest rates because it is assumed that they will be in second position and, as a result, are riskier to the lender. In the case of you defaulting, the lender in second position is not repaid until the first position lender is. 

Types of home equity line of credit (HELOC)

Home equity line of credit (HELOC) combined with a mortgage

This product, sometimes called a readvanceable mortgage, is offered by most major financial institutions in Canada. It is a combination of a HELOC and a fixed-rate mortgage. Some of the key features of this type of HELOC are: 

  • You typically do not have fixed repayment amounts on your HELOC - you only have to pay interest on the money you’ve used. 
  • You will have to pay regular, fixed payments on your mortgage as stipulated in your contract. 
  • The credit limit on your HELOC is up to 65% of your home’s market value. As you build equity in your home by paying off the principal, the credit limit will increase proportionately. 

Stand-alone home equity line of credit (HELOC)

A stand-alone HELOC is not related to your mortgage; it’s simply a revolving line of credit guaranteed by your home. Key features of a stand-alone HELOC include: 

  • The credit limit can be up to 65% of your home’s market value
  • Unlike a HELOC combined with a mortgage, the credit limit of a stand-alone HELOC does not increase as you pay off the principal of the loan.

 

How do you qualify for a home equity line of credit (HELOC)? 

Among the most attractive features of a HELOC is that you only have to qualify and be approved for a HELOC once. Then, you can use the funds in your HELOC any time you choose. In order to qualify, you’ll need the following: 

  •  A minimum down payment or equity in your home of at least 20%
  • A good credit score – You would need a credit score of at least 680 to qualify for the best rates, and at least 600 to qualify at all for a HELOC from a regular lender (as opposed to a sub-prime lender, who will charge higher rates)
  • Proof of income – You’ll need to demonstrate proof of income in the form of pay stubs and/or tax documents such as your Notice of Assessment
  • An acceptable debt-to-income ratio – This varies from lender to lender, but the general range is 40-50%. 
  • Proof that you own your home 
  • All necessary mortgage details, including the balance, term and amortization period

In addition to the above, you’ll also need to pass a stress test, much like you would when trying to obtain a mortgage. You’ll be stress tested at either the qualifying rate of 5.25% set by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), or your contract rate + 2%, whichever is higher.

 

What are the pros and cons of a home equity line of credit (HELOC)?

Like any financial product, a HELOC comes with both pros and cons, some of the most important of which are laid out below.

Pros:

  • Relatively easy access to a large amount of credit
  • Lower interest rates than other types of credit, such as credit cards
  • You only pay interest on the amount that you actually use (not the entire amount available to you)
  • You can pay back the entire balance at any time without incurring a pre-payment penalty fee
  • It’s a flexible line of credit with no set repayment schedule 

Cons: 

  • You have to be disciplined in terms of repaying the loan, because there is no set repayment schedule – otherwise you could find yourself in a lot of debt for a long time
  • A HELOC has a variable interest rate, meaning that it fluctuates along with your lender’s prime rate; should the Bank of Canada choose to raise the target for the overnight rate, your HELOC interest rate will rise accordingly
  • You may not be able to switch your mortgage to another lender unless you have paid your HELOC off in full
  • If you are unable to make payments on your HELOC even after negotiating with your lender, since it is a loan guaranteed by your home, your lender can take possession of your home

 

Tips to consider before getting a home equity line of credit (HELOC)

Because of the flexibility of a HELOC, you need to be disciplined about how you handle the money you can access through this product. To avoid getting into trouble down the road, it’s helpful to consider the following before getting a HELOC. 

  • Do you really need a HELOC? You might be able to achieve your goals by being more economical and building up your savings. 
  • Do you have a clear plan of how you intend to use the credit you’ll be able to access with a HELOC?
  • Do you have a budget for how you intend to use the money you can access with a HELOC? This will help you determine the credit limit that you actually need. 
  • Have you shopped around for the right lender? Have you negotiated to make sure you are getting the product that you want? 
  • Have you made a repayment plan? As mentioned, the flexibility of a HELOC can get you into trouble if you aren’t careful.

Transferring your home equity line of credit (HELOC)

At the end of your mortgage term, when you are getting ready to renew, you may want to go with a different mortgage provider, in which case you would want to transfer your mortgage and your HELOC. Not all lenders will allow you to switch without paying off your HELOC – you’ll want to review your contract and consult with your lender to see if this is an option for you.

If you are allowed to transfer your HELOC, you’ll almost certainly have to pay a number of legal and administrative fees. These will vary from lender to lender.

 

Is a home equity line of credit (HELOC) right for you? 

As with any other major financial decision, before you take out a HELOC, think about your financial needs and your current situation. A HELOC is a great option if you want flexibility and think you may be able to pay it off early. For example, if you're obtaining a HELOC to perform renovations on your home prior to selling it, the value added to your home outweighs the amount you will have to pay in interest on the HELOC.

Because of its flexibility and low monthly payments, a HELOC may be a better choice than a conventional loan in some situations. For example, for many parents in Canada, obtaining a HELOC is a useful vehicle to assist their children in making a down payment on a first home.

If you're unsure as to whether getting a HELOC is the right choice for you, it helps to speak with a mortgage broker, who can give you expert, personalized advice for free. 

 

How much home equity line of credit (HELOC) can I get?

How to calculate your maximum home equity line of credit

As per the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), a HELOC can give you access to no more than 65% of the value of your home. It's also important to remember that your mortgage loan balance + your HELOC cannot equal more than 80% of your home's value. 

To see how this works, let's look at an example:

Case study: Henry's HELOC

  • Home value: $600,000
  • Mortgage balance: $300,000


The first step is to calculate the maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. To do this, Henry needs to multiply his home value by 80%, in keeping with the guidelines mentioned above. So, in this example, it would be: 

$600,000 (home value) x 0.8 (80%) = $480,000 (maximum LTV amount)

The next step is to calculate the maximum amount of equity Henry can pull from his home. To do that, Henry needs to subtract his mortgage balance from the maximum LTV amount that he just calculated above. So here, it would be: 

$480,000 (maximum LTV amount) - $300,000 (mortgage balance) = $180,000 (maximum allowable HELOC)

Finally, Henry wants to make sure that $180,000 doesn't exceed 65% of his home's value, per OSFI's guidelines. For this last calculation, he simply has to divide the HELOC amount by the value of his home: 

$180,000 (maximum allowable HELOC) ÷ $600,000 (home value) = 0.3 (30%)

In this example, Henry can access $180,000 through a HELOC, as it only equals 30% of his home's value and is thus well under the 65% maximum allowable amount permitted by OSFI. 

Comparing home equity line of credit (HELOC) products

As well as the rate of a HELOC, you'll also need to consider the features of any product you're considering. You can compare the different HELOC products in the chart below to find one that suits your needs. Please note that while we have only included a selection of HELOC products offered by the Big Banks, many other lenders offer HELOCs as well. Make sure to shop around to obtain the best rate on your HELOC. A description of the compared features can be found under the table.

Jamie David, Director of Marketing and Head of Mortgages

Jamie has 15+ years of business and marketing experience. She contributes her mortgage expertise to The Globe and Mail and authors Ratehub’s mortgage and homebuying guides. read full bio

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