08/26/2026
Most people think about extending their amortization at renewal to keep payments manageable. And honestly? That makes sense for a lot of people right now. About 60% of mortgage holders renewing in 2025 and 2026 are expected to see some kind of payment increase, and roughly half of those borrowers could actually eliminate that increase just by extending their amortization by five years.
But here's the flip side that doesn't get talked about nearly enough. If your income has grown since you took out your mortgage, or you just want to build equity faster and pay less interest over the long run, renewal is actually the perfect time to go the other direction and shorten your amortization instead. Shorter terms mean you're building equity faster, which can matter a lot when it comes time to refinance or sell. The tradeoff is a higher monthly payment, but if your cash flow can handle it, the long-term savings are real.
One thing worth knowing: if you're thinking about switching lenders at renewal AND changing your amortization period, you may need to re-qualify under the stress test. As of November 21, 2024, the stress test exemption at renewal only applies when your mortgage size and amortization period stay the same. It's a detail that catches people off guard, so it's always worth having a conversation before you sign anything.
If you're renewing in the next year or so and want to think through what amortization length actually makes sense for your situation, reach out to us. We're happy to walk through it with no pressure.
Mortgage Brokers Ottawa
License #11759