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Christine Earle - Mortgage Agent Level 1

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Ottawa, ON
Christine Earle - Mortgage Agent Level 1

20+ years as a mortgage professional! Mortgage Brokers Ottawa Lic. 11759

10/28/2026

Big news this morning — the Bank of Canada just announced a rate change, and if you have a variable-rate mortgage, you're probably already wondering what this means for your payments.

Here's the reality: even a small rate move adds up over time, especially if you've been watching things shift over the past couple of years. Whether you're in a variable mortgage, coming up for renewal, or thinking about buying in Ottawa, now is a really good time to have a conversation before anything catches you off guard.

The market was already seeing some softening before this announcement, and this adds another layer to consider. I'm happy to walk through your options with you so you feel confident about where you stand.

Have you been thinking about your mortgage recently? Drop a comment or send me a DM — let's chat!

Christine Earle, Mortgage Agent - Level 1, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

10/21/2026

If you own a rental property and you've been hearing about OSFI's new IPRRE rules, you're not alone — this is one of the most common questions I'm getting from my investment property clients right now.

Here's what you need to know: if more than 50% of the income used to qualify for your mortgage is coming from rental income, your mortgage now falls under OSFI's Income-Producing Residential Real Estate classification. That means lenders are required to hold more capital against those loans — which can translate to tougher terms or larger down payment requirements on your end.

But here's the good news — using rental income to qualify hasn't gone away. What changed is how lenders manage risk on their side. And if you already have a mortgage in place, you're grandfathered in.

Have questions about how this affects your next investment property move? Drop them below or send me a message — I'm happy to walk you through it!

Christine Earle, Mortgage Agent - Level 1, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

10/14/2026

If you're a property investor with a mortgage renewal coming up, you'll want to hear this. 👇

OSFI made some significant changes that directly affect how your portfolio gets evaluated — and a lot of investors I talk to in Ottawa haven't heard about them yet.

Starting Q1 2026, if more than 50% of your qualifying income comes from rental income, your mortgage gets classified under a new framework called IPRRE. On top of that, rental income already used to qualify for one mortgage can no longer be used to qualify for a second one — no more double-counting across properties.

Existing mortgages are grandfathered in, so your current terms stay the same as long as you're not refinancing or expanding. But if renewal is coming up and you're considering changes, now is the time to talk — before you sign anything.

Have you already started thinking about your next renewal? Drop a comment or send me a message and let's figure out where you stand together. 🏘️

Christine Earle, Mortgage Agent - Level 1, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

10/07/2026

If you've been eyeing a townhouse in Ottawa, the current market is actually worth a closer look right now.

Year-to-date through May 2026, the overall Ottawa market sits at about 3.5 months of inventory — balanced territory. But the townhouse segment is running closer to 2.7 months, with a benchmark price of $557,500 and homes taking a little longer to sell. That means more listings to compare, less pressure to rush, and more room for real conversation.

Compared to 2023 and 2024, conditions have genuinely shifted in buyers' favour. That doesn't mean deals land in your lap, but the window feels more manageable than it has in a while.

If you've been waiting for a better time to explore what townhouse ownership could look like for you, I'd love to chat about what you might qualify for — no pressure at all. Have you been watching the Ottawa market lately? Drop a comment below!

Christine Earle, Mortgage Agent - Level 1, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

09/30/2026

First-time buyer considering new construction in Ottawa? This news could be a game-changer for you! 🏡

The federal First-Time Buyer GST Rebate is now law and can save eligible buyers up to $50,000 on a newly built home priced at $1 million or under. It applies to purchase agreements signed on or after March 20, 2025 — so you might already qualify without knowing it.

Ontario has also announced its own rebate on the 8% provincial HST portion for first-time buyers on new homes up to $1 million. Stack both together and that's a potential $130,000 in savings. And for a limited window (April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027), Ontario's HST rebate extends to ALL buyers!

There are eligibility rules and deadlines to navigate, so I'd love to help you figure out where you stand. Have you heard about these rebates yet? Drop a comment below or send me a message!

Christine Earle, Mortgage Agent - Level 1, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

09/23/2026

Big news if you've been house hunting in Ottawa! 🏡 As of December 15, 2024, the insured mortgage cap increased to $1.5 million — meaning you can now buy a home up to $1.5M with less than 20% down. The old cap hadn't been updated since 2012, so this is a really meaningful change for our market.

The minimum down payment breaks down as 5% on the first $500,000 and 10% on the remaining amount up to $1.5M. There were also updates to 30-year amortizations for first-time buyers and new builds, and insured mortgage holders can now switch lenders at renewal without the stress test. Lots of good news for buyers!

Have you been waiting on the sidelines for the right moment to make a move? I'd love to help you figure out what this means for your situation — drop a comment or send me a message anytime!

Christine Earle, Mortgage Agent - Level 1, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

09/16/2026

One question I keep getting lately: "Should I just wait and save up a bigger down payment, or go with a 30-year mortgage now?"

Honestly? There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but here's what I want you to know. Since December 2024, 30-year amortizations are available to all first-time buyers and anyone purchasing a new build, even with as little as 5% down on an insured mortgage. That opened up a real option for a lot of people who felt stuck on the sidelines. The tradeoff is a 20 basis point CMHC premium surcharge on top of the standard insurance premium, and yes, you'll pay more interest over the life of the loan. But for some buyers, the lower monthly payments make homeownership actually manageable right now.

On the flip side, saving a bigger down payment has its own math. Once you hit 20%, you skip mortgage insurance altogether, which saves you thousands upfront. But with Ottawa's average home price sitting around $683,000 as of this summer, every extra month you spend saving is a month the market could shift. And with fixed rates being pushed higher lately due to bond market pressure, timing isn't always on your side either.

This is exactly the kind of conversation I love having with clients because the right move depends on your income, your savings pace, and your goals. If you're weighing this out, let's talk it through.

Christine Earle, Mortgage Agent - Level 1, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

09/09/2026

Most people think mortgage rates only move when the Bank of Canada makes a decision — and honestly, it's one of the most common things my clients ask me about! 🏡

Here's what's important to know right now: even when the Bank of Canada holds its policy rate steady, fixed mortgage rates can still move. Why? Because lenders price 5-year fixed rates based on Government of Canada bond yields — and those have been rising due to geopolitical tensions and ongoing U.S. trade uncertainty. These are two very different things, and understanding that difference could save you real money.

If you have a renewal coming up in the next 6-12 months, or you're thinking about buying in Ottawa, now is a great time to have a quick chat. I've been connecting with clients this week so no one gets caught off guard.

Drop a comment or send me a message — I'm happy to walk you through what this means for your situation! What questions do you have about your mortgage right now?

Christine Earle, Mortgage Agent - Level 1, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

09/02/2026

The Bank of Canada just released its rate announcement — and it's a hold! 🙌 The overnight rate stays at 2.25%, which lines up with what most economists were expecting given that inflation came in at 3.0% in July and trade uncertainty with the U.S. is still keeping things complicated.

For Ottawa homeowners and buyers, a hold means variable mortgage rates aren't moving today. No surprise jumps, but no added relief either. If you're coming up on a renewal or still working through whether a fixed or variable rate makes more sense for you right now, this is actually a great moment to revisit your options.

I'm always happy to chat through what this means for your specific situation — sometimes a quick 10-minute conversation makes everything feel a lot clearer. Drop a comment, send me a DM, or give me a call! 📲

Christine Earle, Mortgage Agent - Level 1, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

08/26/2026

When your mortgage renewal notice lands in the mailbox, it can feel like the hard part is already done. Just sign and move on, right? That's exactly what your lender is hoping you'll do.

Here's the thing — over 1.2 million Canadian mortgages are renewing in 2025, and another big wave is hitting in 2026. A huge chunk of those were locked in back in 2020 and 2021 when rates were sitting at or below 1%. The Bank of Canada estimates homeowners in that group could be looking at roughly $425 more per month compared to what they were paying before. That's real money, and the first offer your lender sends you is almost never their best one.

What a lot of people don't realize is that since November 2024, if you have an uninsured mortgage, you no longer need to pass the stress test just to switch lenders at renewal. That one change opened the door for so many Ottawa homeowners to actually shop around without the barrier that used to hold them back. And right now, with the Bank of Canada holding its rate at 2.25%, there is real room to negotiate and find something better than whatever envelope just showed up at your door. A 27% of borrowers admit they don't fully understand how to make their mortgage more affordable — don't be part of that group. Reach out before you sign anything and let's look at what the full market has to offer you.

Christine Earle, Mortgage Agent - Level 1, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

Address

300-1701 Woodward Drive
Ottawa, ON
K2C0R4

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.christineearle.com/

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