Josie Mourtos - Mortgage Agent Level 2

Josie Mourtos - Mortgage Agent Level 2 Mortgage Brokers Ottawa (License #11759)
25 years of mortgage experience. Deciding on the smartest way to finance your home can be daunting.

Choose an mortgage agent you can trust, someone who will take the time to understand your specific needs. Pairing expert mortgage advice, with personalized service catered to your unique needs, I will find you the best mortgage products, at the best rate and terms. For over 20 years I’ve worked with clients help them make smart financial decisions while getting them them into the house that feels

like home. Together, we will meet your financial goals and pair you with a mortgage that will work for you in the long term.

📣 Bank of Canada rate announcement day — always a big one for anyone thinking about their mortgage!The decision dropped ...
09/02/2026

📣 Bank of Canada rate announcement day — always a big one for anyone thinking about their mortgage!

The decision dropped this morning at 9:45 AM ET, and as most economists were expecting, the Bank of Canada held its overnight rate steady at 2.25%. This marks yet another hold, with the rate sitting right where it's been since October 2025. The Bank is essentially stuck between a rock and a hard place right now — inflation crept up to 3.0% in July, and U.S. trade tensions are still casting a shadow over economic growth. Not a lot of wiggle room to make a move in either direction.

So what does this mean for you if you're buying, renewing, or just keeping an eye on things here in Ottawa? Variable rates stay put for now, and the next announcement where we could see any real movement is October 28, 2026. If you've been sitting on the fence waiting for clarity, this is a good moment to take stock of your options. I'm always happy to chat through what rate stability actually means for your situation specifically.

Drop your questions below or send me a DM — no pressure, just real answers 👇

Josie Mourtos, Mortgage Agent - Level 2, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

Let me walk you through a real scenario that I see playing out for Ottawa first-time buyers right now 👇Say you opened yo...
08/26/2026

Let me walk you through a real scenario that I see playing out for Ottawa first-time buyers right now 👇

Say you opened your FHSA in 2025 but didn't max it out. In 2026, you can carry forward that unused room and contribute up to $16,000 this year alone. That money goes in tax-deductible and comes out tax-free when you use it toward your first home. And if you're buying with a partner? You each have your own FHSA, and you can both make a qualifying withdrawal toward the same purchase. That's a serious head start.

With the average Ottawa apartment sitting at $432,199 as of June 2026, a condo is still one of the more accessible entry points into this market. Ottawa is sitting in balanced territory right now with over 4,900 active listings, so buyers have more time and more options than they did a couple of years ago. That combination of a friendlier market and a tool like the FHSA is worth paying attention to.

If you've been sitting on an FHSA without a clear plan, or you're not sure how to actually use it when the time comes, let's talk. I can help you map out what that looks like from a mortgage standpoint.

Josie Mourtos, Mortgage Agent - Level 2, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

Okay, real talk — your lender's renewal offer landing in your mailbox is NOT their best offer. It's their opening move. ...
08/19/2026

Okay, real talk — your lender's renewal offer landing in your mailbox is NOT their best offer. It's their opening move. 👀

Right now, we're in the middle of the largest mortgage renewal wave in Canadian history. Over 1.2 million mortgages are renewing, and studies show that 44% of homeowners just... sign and send it back. Only 8% actually negotiate. I get it, life is busy, but that decision can cost you thousands of dollars over your term.

Here's what I want you to know: lender competition right now is real, and you have leverage. Even a 0.25% difference in your rate can add up to serious savings. Before you sign anything, please reach out to me. I'll shop the market for you, compare your options, and make sure you're not leaving money on the table. Your renewal is your chance to renegotiate — don't let it pass you by. 🏡

DM me or drop a comment below and let's talk about what your renewal could actually look like. 👇

Josie Mourtos, Mortgage Agent - Level 2, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

If you're buying a new build in Ottawa, this is genuinely one of the best times to do it from a tax savings perspective ...
08/12/2026

If you're buying a new build in Ottawa, this is genuinely one of the best times to do it from a tax savings perspective — and I don't say that lightly.

There are now TWO rebates you can stack as a first-time buyer. The federal GST rebate (passed earlier this year through Bill C-4) wipes out the 5% GST on your new home, saving you up to $50,000. Then there's Ontario's Enhanced New Housing Rebate, announced in March 2026, which can save you up to $130,000 on the provincial portion of HST for eligible new builds valued up to $1 million. When you combine both? First-time buyers could be looking at up to $130,000 in total tax relief on a qualifying purchase.

A few things to know: the Ontario rebate applies to agreements of purchase and sale signed between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027, so the timing actually lines up really well right now. And if you already closed on a new build on or after March 20, 2025, you may be able to go back and claim the Ontario top-up retroactively. The CRA has mentioned that processing on the enhanced Ontario claims will begin after system updates roll out in fall 2026, so it's worth getting your paperwork in order now.

This stuff gets complicated fast, and the last thing I want is for anyone to leave money on the table. If you're buying, building, or just curious whether you qualify, send me a message and let's talk it through.

Josie Mourtos, Mortgage Agent - Level 2, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

The Bank of Canada held rates at 2.25% again on July 15 — that's six holds in a row now. And with the next decision comi...
08/05/2026

The Bank of Canada held rates at 2.25% again on July 15 — that's six holds in a row now. And with the next decision coming up on September 2, most experts are expecting another hold. But "expecting" isn't the same as "certain," and your mortgage shouldn't be built on assumptions.

Whether your renewal is coming up, you're thinking about variable vs. fixed, or you just want to know how all of this actually affects your payment — now is a really good time to have that conversation. There are still risks in the mix: oil prices, U.S. trade uncertainty, and an economy that's just starting to find its footing again. A little planning goes a long way before September 2 gets here.

I'm here to help you figure out where you stand and what your options look like. Drop me a message or book a call — no pressure, just a real conversation about your mortgage.

Josie Mourtos, Mortgage Agent - Level 2, Mortgage Brokers Ottawa #11759

If your mortgage is renewing this year, your payment is probably going up — and I want to make sure you're not caught of...
07/29/2026

If your mortgage is renewing this year, your payment is probably going up — and I want to make sure you're not caught off guard by it.

Here's the reality: about 60% of all mortgages in Canada are expected to renew in 2025 or 2026. And of those renewing, roughly 60% will see a payment increase. If you locked in a 5-year fixed rate back in 2021, you could be looking at somewhere around 15–20% more per month compared to what you were paying. That's not a small number. Global factors like bond yield pressure have kept fixed rates elevated even while the Bank of Canada has held its policy rate steady at 2.25% for four decisions in a row.

The good news? You have more options than your bank is going to walk you through. Variable rates have gotten a lot of attention lately for good reason, and renewal is honestly one of the best times to reassess your whole mortgage strategy. If your renewal is coming up in the next 6 months, let's talk before you just sign what lands in your inbox. A quick conversation could save you real money. Send me a DM or drop a comment below.

If you're a first-time buyer in Ottawa looking at a new build, this is the news you've been waiting for. Between the fed...
07/23/2026

If you're a first-time buyer in Ottawa looking at a new build, this is the news you've been waiting for. Between the federal GST rebate (up to $50,000) and Ontario's new provincial HST rebate (up to $80,000), eligible first-time buyers can now stack both for a combined savings of up to $130,000 on new homes priced up to $1 million. That is a serious amount of money back in your pocket.

There are eligibility requirements to know about, like the home needing to be your primary residence and agreements needing to be signed from March 20, 2025 onward. And since some of these rebates are still working through the legislative process, timing and how you close matters a lot.

I help my clients navigate exactly this kind of thing so nothing gets missed. If you're buying a new home or thinking about it soon, let's chat and make sure you're set up to take full advantage of every savings opportunity available to you.

Send me a DM or drop a comment below and let's talk!

Mid-2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for Ottawa homeowners carrying high-interest debt — and a mortgage refinan...
07/22/2026

Mid-2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for Ottawa homeowners carrying high-interest debt — and a mortgage refinance might be one of the most practical tools available right now 🏠📊

With the Bank of Canada's next rate decision cycle approaching, homeowners who have built up equity may have a window to consolidate debt, simplify monthly payments, and reduce the overall interest they're paying — before conditions shift again.

Refinancing isn't the right move for everyone, and it does come with considerations like potential mortgage penalties and updated qualifying requirements under the current stress test rules. But for the right homeowner, accessing equity strategically can be a game-changer — especially when credit card and line of credit rates remain elevated.

The key is running the actual numbers for your specific situation. How much equity do you have? What would the penalty look like? Would the long-term interest savings outweigh the short-term cost? These are the questions I help Ottawa homeowners work through every day 💡

Swipe through this carousel for a clear breakdown of how mid-2026 refinancing works and why timing matters right now 👇

Did you know you don't have to choose between the First Home Savings Account and the Home Buyers' Plan? In many cases, O...
07/15/2026

Did you know you don't have to choose between the First Home Savings Account and the Home Buyers' Plan? In many cases, Ottawa first-time buyers can use both — and the combination can make a meaningful difference in what you're able to put toward a down payment 🏡💰

The FHSA has been one of the most powerful tools introduced for Canadian first-time buyers in years. But a lot of people either haven't opened one yet, or they're not sure how it stacks up alongside other federal programs like the Home Buyers' Plan or the First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit.

The truth is, how you sequence and combine these programs matters — and getting the order wrong can reduce your tax efficiency before you even make an offer.

As a mortgage agent in Ottawa, I help first-time buyers not only understand their financing options but also make sure they're using the programs available to them in the smartest way possible. Whether you're planning to buy this fall or just starting to save, July is a great time to get your strategy sorted 📅

Swipe through to see how these programs work together 👇

The Bank of Canada held its overnight rate at 2.25% again today, July 15th — that's six announcements in a row without a...
07/15/2026

The Bank of Canada held its overnight rate at 2.25% again today, July 15th — that's six announcements in a row without a move. After nine cuts between mid-2024 and last fall, the BoC is clearly in a holding pattern, and markets are now expecting things to stay put well into 2027.

So what does this mean for you? If you're renewing your mortgage or thinking about buying in Ottawa, this kind of stability can actually be a good thing. It gives us a clearer picture of where things stand and more time to plan strategically rather than react.

That said, your mortgage decisions shouldn't wait on the Bank of Canada alone. There's a lot more that goes into finding the right product for YOUR situation. Whether you're a first-time buyer or coming up on renewal, I'd love to chat and help you figure out your next best move.

Drop a comment, send me a DM, or click the link in my bio to book a free call!

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300-1701 Woodward Drive
Ottawa, ON
K2C0R4

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