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Zeena Nejar Mortgages

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Canada
Ottawa, ON
Zeena Nejar Mortgages

Mortgage Agent Level 2 with Ottawa's largest brokerage. Fluent in English & Arabic. Mortgage Brokers Ottawa License # 11759

As a Mortgage Agent, I understand that purchasing a home is one of life's most exciting endeavors, and is also a very comprehensive one.

03/18/2026

📢 Rate Hold Alert!

The Bank of Canada has held the overnight rate at 2.25%, keeping borrowing conditions stable for now.

If you’re buying, renewing, or considering refinancing, this stability could be a great window to explore your options.

Have questions about what this means for you? I’m here to help!

03/12/2026

Most Canadians just sign the renewal their lender sends them — and that can be an expensive mistake.

Slide 1️⃣
Your renewal is not just paperwork. It’s one of the few times you have real leverage over your mortgage.

Slide 2️⃣
👉 Most lenders quietly offer better rates and perks to new clients than to loyal ones.
That renewal letter? It’s often not their best offer.

Slide 3️⃣
✅ You can negotiate your renewal — even if you stay put.
Rates, prepayment options, and flexibility are all on the table when you ask the right questions.

Slide 4️⃣
💡 Breaking your mortgage early can still save you money.
Penalties feel scary, but the math sometimes says switching wins anyway. You won’t know unless you run the numbers.

Slide 5️⃣
⏰ Don’t wait until the last minute.
The best options usually appear 120 days before renewal — when lenders know you can walk.

✅ Save this so your renewal doesn’t sneak up on you
📤 Share with someone renewing soon

03/06/2026

Wondering if breaking your mortgage is worth it?

Depending on your current situation, you may be able to save thousands!

If you are in a high rate mortgage (4.75% or higher), it may be worth it to break your mortgage and renew early. I'm able to calculate the best timing to break your mortgage, and pay the lowest penalty possible to do so.

This can result in savings of thousands of dollars in penalties and in interest!

Want to find out if this will work for you?

Reach out to me and I can run the numbers for you for free! If the opportunity isn't right for you I'll let you know right away! However, if it is right for you, you can benefit from saving thousands!

Contact me today and get started!

03/04/2026

Thinking about breaking your mortgage early?

Most homeowners don’t realize that renewing before your term ends can be one of the smartest financial moves you’ll ever make — if you do it at the right time.

In my latest article, I break down exactly how early renewal can help you:
💰 Reduce your total interest costs
📉 Lock in a lower rate before markets shift
🔒 Protect yourself from future payment shocks
📊 Consolidate debt and improve cash flow
🔎 Avoid massive penalties with smarter lender choices

💡 Here’s why you’ll want to save this:
• I explain the difference between fixed vs. variable penalties (and why one is way cheaper to break).
• You’ll learn the real math behind break‑even savings — using real‑world examples.
• I show how brokers access better rates and lower-penalty lenders your bank won’t tell you about.
• You’ll understand exactly when breaking your mortgage makes sense — and when it doesn’t.

🔁 Share this with any homeowner wondering about refinancing — it could save them thousands.
💾 Save this post so you can revisit the key criteria before making a decision.

👇 Dive into the full explanation and see whether early renewal could put more money back in your pocket:

Visit my website for the full length article and details!

02/25/2026

🌍 How Climate Change Is Reshaping Mortgages in Ottawa

Climate change isn’t just an environmental issue—it directly influences how lenders assess risk, approve mortgages, and price insurance. For Ottawa buyers, understanding climate‑related factors is becoming essential.

🌊 Flood Risk Is Real
• Flooding is Canada’s most frequent and costly natural disaster
• Recent flood‑zone homes have seen sale prices drop by ~8%, weakening loan‑to‑value ratios
• OSFI and the Bank of Canada warn that flood‑risk exposure increases lender vulnerability
• Some lenders have already pulled back—e.g., Desjardins in Quebec won’t finance high‑risk flood zones, and insurance is often unavailable in those areas

🌿 Energy Efficiency as Financial Protection
• Green mortgages reward buyers with lower premiums and better terms for efficient homes
• CMHC offers up to 25% off mortgage insurance premiums for certified green properties
• Energy‑efficient homes pose lower default risk—boosting lender confidence and borrower savings

🛠️ What Buyers & Lenders Should Do
• Check local floodplain maps before buying—Ottawa tools like the City Flood Hazard Map and RVCA/ORRPB resources are essential
• Ask lenders about flood‑zone policies—some restrict approvals in higher‑risk areas
• Get an energy audit before buying or renewing to unlock green‑mortgage benefits
• Use Greener Homes Loans or PACE‑style programs to finance upgrades, then refinance into a green mortgage for long‑term savings and risk protection

💡 Bottom Line
Climate risks are shaping real estate and lending more than ever. Ottawa buyers who understand flood exposure and energy efficiency can protect their investment—and potentially save thousands.

02/18/2026

💼 Self‑Employed in Ottawa? Here’s How to Qualify for a Mortgage in 2026

Being self‑employed brings freedom—but when it comes to mortgages, lenders take a closer look at your income. The good news: with the right documents and strategy, self‑employed buyers in Ottawa can absolutely get approved, even during tighter lending periods.

🔍 The Self‑Employed Mortgage Challenge
• Lenders want income that’s stable, consistent, and easy to verify
• Business write‑offs lower your taxable income, which can reduce borrowing power
• Fluctuating income means lenders look closely at multi‑year trends

📑 Documentation You’ll Need
• T1 General + Notice of Assessment (NOA) for the past 2 years
• Business financials or bank statements to show revenue and cash flow
• Business registration, contracts, or recurring revenue proof (especially for stated‑income programs)

💡 How Lenders Calculate Your Income
• Two‑year average (Line 150) based on CRA-reported net income
• Gross‑up method: adding back allowable deductions like depreciation or home‑office expenses
• Stated‑income programs using bank/business statements instead of taxable income

🧭 Tips to Boost Your Approval Odds in Ottawa
• Stay organized—clean financials and two years of NOAs are non‑negotiable
• Show true earning power using gross‑ups or stated‑income options
• Work with a broker who specializes in self‑employed files—they know which lenders value your business model
• Strengthen your file with a bigger down payment or reduced debts

💼 Bottom Line
Self‑employed borrowers face extra scrutiny, but with the right preparation and lender strategy, getting approved in Ottawa is absolutely achievable.

02/11/2026

🏡 Mortgage Portability: Keep Your Rate When You Move in Ottawa

If you're selling and buying a home in Ottawa, you might already have a great mortgage rate locked in—but what happens to that rate when you move? Mortgage portability lets you transfer your existing mortgage to your new property, potentially saving thousands in penalties and higher interest costs.

🔑 What Is Mortgage Portability?
• Transfer your current mortgage rate, remaining term, and sometimes special features to a new home
• Avoid breaking your mortgage and triggering extra costs

📌 Why It Matters in Today’s Market
• Avoid major penalties like Interest Rate Differential (IRD), which can be thousands
• Keep your lower rate if today’s rates are higher than when you originally locked in
• Simplify financing by moving your existing mortgage instead of starting from scratch

🧭 How It Works Step-by-Step
• Confirm your mortgage is portable—some variable or restricted products aren't
• Requalify under today’s rules, including the stress test
• Align sale + purchase dates—lenders usually allow 30–120 days
• If upgrading, blend & increase: keep your current balance and add new funds at today’s rates

✅ Is It Right for You?
• Ideal for fixed‑rate borrowers moving mid‑term
• Best when current rates are higher than your locked‑in rate
• Helps avoid penalties and retain favourable terms
• But remember: you must still requalify, and timing restrictions apply

02/04/2026

🌱 Green Home Incentives Still Going Strong in 2026
With the federal carbon rebate officially gone after the early‑2025 carbon tax phase‑out, many expected green programs to disappear too—but major incentives remain firmly in place and continue to benefit Ottawa buyers and homeowners.

❌ What’s Ended
• The Climate Action Incentive Payment (CAIP) is gone
• The federal carbon fuel charge ended by March 2025 → no carbon rebates in 2026

♻️ What’s Still Available
• Canada Greener Homes Loan: Up to $40,000 interest‑free for energy‑efficient upgrades
• Federal & provincial rebates and tax credits
• CMHC premium reductions (up to 25%) for energy‑efficient homes or qualifying retrofits

🏡 How It Helps Ottawa Buyers/Homeowners
• Offset costs of heat pumps, insulation, windows, solar, and more
• Save upfront through low‑ or no‑interest loans + long‑term through lower utility bills
• Improve comfort, boost property value, and qualify for CMHC refunds

🤝 Brokers’ Role in 2026
• Guide clients through loan‑rebate‑insurance combinations
• Integrate energy‑efficiency savings into pre‑approval planning
• Highlight efficient homes as strong long‑term investments

💡 Bottom Line
Carbon rebates may be gone—but green home financing remains a powerful way for Ottawa residents to reduce costs and invest in more efficient, future‑ready homes.

01/23/2026

📉 New OSFI LTI Rules: What Ottawa Borrowers Need to Know in 2025–2026

OSFI’s proposed Loan‑to‑Income (LTI) cap of 4.5× gross income is set to reshape how Canadians—especially Ottawa buyers—qualify for mortgages. While still in testing through January 2026, the framework is already signaling a shift in how lenders assess risk and how borrowers must plan their financing.

Here’s what it means:

🔍 What’s Changing
• Lenders exceeding the 4.5× LTI threshold may face tighter oversight, stricter appraisals, or limited approvals.
• Rental income can’t be reused across properties, reducing leverage for investors and slowing portfolio growth.

🏠 Impact on Ottawa Buyers
• High‑income earners with smaller down payments could see reduced borrowing power.
• Investors relying on rental add‑backs will find scaling harder without bigger down payments or alternative lending solutions.

🧭 Strategies to Stay Ahead
• Run scenarios using both the traditional stress test and the new LTI cap—your approval may hinge on whichever is stricter.
• Consider staged strategies (buy → renovate → refinance → repeat) to spread income and leverage.
• Explore alternative lenders who may interpret rental income more flexibly.

📅 What’s Next?
OSFI will finish evaluating the LTI framework in January 2026, meaning more clarity—and possibly new rules—could land in the coming months.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year, everyone!

As we step into a brand new year, it's a great time to pause and reflect on the past months. Whether you faced challenges or celebrated successes, each experience helped you grow.

Now, with a fresh start ahead, there’s a chance to set new goals, focus on what matters most, and make this year meaningful.

Wishing you all health, happiness, and plenty of good moments in the year to come!

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300/1701 Woodward Drive
Ottawa, ON
K2S0R4

Telephone

+16138848157

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