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New to Canada? Financing Your First Home Here

New to Canada and thinking about buying? You may be able to get a mortgage sooner than you expect, even without a long Canadian credit history. There are programs built for newcomers. Here is what makes it possible and what to gather.

What Makes It Possible

Your Status

Permanent residents and many work-permit holders can qualify.

Down Payment

From 5 percent for permanent residents; non-permanent residents often need more.

Alternative Credit

An international credit report, a bank reference, or 12 months of rent and utility payments can help.

Steady Income

A job letter, recent pay stubs, and a few months of employment.

Insured Options

CMHC newcomer programs may be available, subject to eligibility.

Did you know? Established immigrants, those in Canada five or more years, own their homes at a higher rate than Canadian-born residents, roughly 70 percent versus 62 percent (Statistics Canada). A short start here does not hold you back for long.

Getting Ready

What to Gather

Proof of status (PR card, confirmation of permanent residence, or work permit), your Social Insurance Number, income documents, and whatever credit history you can show, Canadian or international.

What to Know

Requirements vary by your immigration status and the lender, and down payment and credit rules differ for permanent versus non-permanent residents. We will tell you what applies to your situation.

A short Canadian history does not have to mean waiting years to buy. We work with newcomer files often and will walk you through it in plain language. Getting organized? See our Pre-Application Prep Checklist. Any figures are illustrative only.
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New to Canada and Ready to Buy?

Tell us your status and your situation, and we will walk through your options and what you will need. A licensed member of our team will follow up.

Start a conversation
(902) 835-6420  |  contact@tmgharbourtown.ca

Information here is general and educational. It is not financial, legal, immigration, or lending advice, and it is not an offer of financing. Eligibility, down payment, and credit requirements for newcomers vary by immigration status, lender, and insurer program, and can change. Any figures are illustrative only. All financing is subject to lender review, property review, and supporting documentation. Submission of a form does not guarantee approval or financing.