04/24/2026
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐จ๐๐๐: ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐
Feeling lost in mortgage jargon? Whether you're buying in Abbotsford or renewing in Chilliwack, these are the 5 concepts that actually impact your bank account.
๐. ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ ๐ฏ๐ฌ. ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ: Your contract length (usually 3โ5 years). This is how long your rate and rules are locked in.
๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: Is the total number of years, usually 25 or 30. It takes to pay off your mortgage in full. While your "term" is your current contract length (eg. 3 or 5 years), the amortization determines your monthly payment and how much total interest you pay over the decades. A 30 year plan gives you more monthly breathing room, whereas a 25 year plan gets you to the "finish line" faster and can save you thousands in interest.
๐. ๐
๐ข๐ฑ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฌ. ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐
๐
๐ข๐ฑ๐๐: Your rate is frozen. No matter what the Bank of Canada does, your payment stays exactly the same during your term.
๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐: Your rate fluctuations with the Prime Rate (currently 4.45%).
๐๐ซ๐จ ๐๐ข๐ฉ: With a Static Variable (VRM), your monthly payment stays the same, but if rates rise, more of your money goes toward interest and less toward your principal.
๐. ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ ๐๐ ๐ (๐๐๐)
This is a variable mortgage where your payment changes automatically whenever the Prime Rate moves.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ: The amount you pay toward your principal stays exactly the same, but the bank adds the fluctuating interest cost on top.
๐. ๐๐ก๐ "๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ"
The bank doesn't just check if you can afford today's rates; they test if you could still pay if rates went up by 2%. Itโs a safety net designed to protect you from future market shifts.
๐. ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
This is the portion of the home you actually own. If your home is worth $900k and you owe $500k, you have $400k in equity. This is your greatest tool for future wealth!
๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฐ๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ? Where are here to help. Advice is always free. Please share this post. Thank you.