Best Mortgage Rates in Ontario
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Ontario mortgage rate update: August 2025
Variable rates are holding steady after the latest Bank of Canada interest rate decision.
Fixed rates are more likely to increase than decrease in August.
August could be a long month for Ontario's mortgage shoppers.
On July 30, the Bank of Canada held its overnight rate at 2.75%. It was the Bank's third consecutive rate hold, and came as no surprise.
The rate hold means borrowers are stuck with today's variable mortgage rates until at least September 17, when the BoC is scheduled to make its next rate decision. Brokerages currently offer the lowest variable rates — around 4%. You might pay significantly more elsewhere.
At least variable rates are stable. Fixed mortgage rates could spend the rest of the summer inching up.
That's because government bond yields, which help determine lenders’ fixed rates, spent July on a steady upward trek. Yields tapered off somewhat toward the end of July, but they began August higher than they’ve been since January. When yields rise over an extended period of time, lenders often respond by increasing their fixed rates.
Fixed rates crept up here and there in the final days of July, but not to the extent that signals a wholesale shift. You can still find three- and five-year fixed rates advertised at around 3.9% at some mortgage brokerages.
Whether fixed rates rise further in the coming weeks is hard to predict, especially in the current economic climate. But it's a definite possibility. If you're considering getting a fixed-rate mortgage this summer, get pre-approved and lock in a rate as soon as possible.
Read more about the Bank of Canada's latest rate announcement.
The BoC makes policy interest rate announcements eight times a year. Find out how its latest decision might impact Canada's housing market.
What’s a good mortgage rate in Ontario right now?
As of Sept. 2025, some mortgage brokers in Ontario are offering fixed rates for under 4%; most fixed rates are closer to 4.25%. The lowest variable rates are just above 4%.
The rate offers you receive depend on factors like your credit score, total debt level and income, and whether you apply at a major bank or through a mortgage broker.
2025 Ontario mortgage rate forecast
Mortgage rates may decrease further in the second half of 2025.
The Bank of Canada is expected to reduce its overnight rate again twice before the end of the year, which would lower variable mortgage rates by at least 0.5% versus today’s levels.
Fixed mortgage rates will likely continue hovering between 3.75% and 4.25% for the remainder of 2025.
Ontario housing market update
Home sales in Ontario were up 11.4% in July compared to July 2024, according to the Ontario Real Estate Association.
The average price of resale residential homes dipped 2.1%, to $822,356, compared to one year ago.
Ontario home buyer resources
Ontario first-time home buyer programs
Areas including Waterloo, the County of Simcoe, Kingston and Chatham-Kent have home buyer assistance programs that can keep costs down.
Land transfer tax refund
When buying your first home in Ontario, you can claim a refund up to $4,000 of land transfer taxes. If you’re a first-time home buyer in Toronto, you may qualify for a $4,475 refund on your municipal land transfer tax.
Ontario land transfer taxes
In Ontario, you'll pay a land transfer tax based on your home's value. The rate tops out at at 2.5% for values more than $2 million.
- 0.5% of the first $55,000 of the home's value.
- 1.0% of any additional value between $55,000 and $250,000.
- 1.5% of any additional value between $250,000 and $400,000.
- 2.0% of any additional value between $400,000 and $2 million.
- 2.5% of any additional value that's more than $2,000,000 if the land contains no more than two single-family residences.
Mortgage calculators
Frequently asked questions
Will Ontario mortgage rates go down in 2025?
Will Ontario mortgage rates go down in 2025?
The Bank of Canada overnight rate has been unchanged since March. If the bank lowers the rate, lower variable mortgage rates will follow. Fixed mortgage rates will likely continue hovering between 3.75% and 4.25% for much of the year.
How Ontario lenders determine mortgage rates
How Ontario lenders determine mortgage rates
The mortgage rate you’re offered in Ontario will be based on two primary factors; the state of the economy and your financial situation.
Economic factors
Variable mortgage rates are influenced by the Bank of Canada’s overnight rate. When the overnight rate increases or decreases, a lender’s prime rate follows suit. Variable mortgage rates are based on a lender’s prime rate, so as the prime rate rises or falls, so do variable rates.
Fixed mortgage rates are determined by activity in the government bond market, particularly the yields on one-, three- and five-year bonds. Fixed mortgage rates follow the movement of those yields.
Your financial situation
Factors specific to you also affect the rates you’re offered. These include:
Your credit score.
Your income.
Your total debts.
The loan type you choose.
The amount you’re borrowing.
The term length and amortization period of your loan.
How to qualify for a lower mortgage rate in Ontario
How to qualify for a lower mortgage rate in Ontario
Some factors behind rates are beyond your control, but there are steps you can take to possibly qualify for the best mortgage rates, including:
Improve your credit score. A higher credit score generally results in better offers. Get a better score by eliminating existing debt and paying future bills in full and on time.
Increase your income. It’s not always easy, but any additional income will improve your financial position. Lenders look at your income to assess your ability to afford a mortgage.
Decrease your total debts. Pay down personal loans, student loans or other types of debts. Lenders consider your total debt load when determining the details of your loan.
Consider all your options. See if adjusting the loan type, the term length or the amortization period of your loan could help.
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Clay Jarvis