Pause your mortgage,
not your life.
When the weight of monthly mortgage payments becomes more than your budget can carry, you don't have to choose between your home and your stability. A Paused Payments Mortgage gives you time — without losing ownership of what you've built.
The Reality Right Now
The cost of living isn't
slowing down.
Groceries, utilities, insurance — the things you can't skip are costing more than they did a year ago. For many homeowners, the mortgage payment was once predictable. Now it's the number that keeps the budget from working.
This isn't a failure of planning. It is a reasonable response to an unreasonable economic moment. And there is a legitimate, structured solution designed for exactly this — a way to pause payments while you steady yourself, without surrendering the home you've worked to keep.
You don't need to be in crisis to use this. Many homeowners use a Paused Payments Mortgage proactively — to redirect cash flow, manage a career transition, or simply create breathing room while they decide their next move.
What's a paused payments mortgage
A different kind of
mortgage structure.
A Paused Payments Mortgage is a home equity financing solution that allows you to stop making monthly mortgage payments for a defined term. Interest accrues on your balance and is settled when the term ends — through a sale, a refinance, or a full repayment.
during your term
No monthly payments for your entire term
Not reduced payments. Not interest-only. Zero monthly obligation during the term — giving you complete control over that cash flow.
Your home stays yours — completely
Your name remains on title. You retain full legal ownership. You can sell, renovate, or refinance at any time during the term.
Terms matched to your situation
We work with a portfolio of lenders offering 1, 2, 3, and 5-year terms — both closed and fully open. Your situation determines the right fit.
Repay when you're ready
On open terms, you can repay in full at any time — no penalty. Your situation improves before the term ends? You can act on it.
The Process
From first conversation
to funded.
Most clients move from initial consultation to funded in a matter of weeks. Here is what that path looks like.
Eligibility Consultation
A private, no-obligation conversation to understand your situation — your home's equity position, your goals, and the timeline that makes sense. No credit pull at this stage.
Lender Matching
We assess your file against our portfolio of lenders and identify the term, structure, and rate that fits your situation. You are not placed with a lender — you are matched to one.
Full Transparency — Before You Sign
You will see exactly how your balance grows over the term, what your exit options look like, and what each scenario means for you. No surprises. No pressure. Just clear information.
Approval & Funding
An independent appraisal is completed. Once approved, the mortgage is structured and funded. Your name stays on title throughout.
Payments Pause — You Move Forward
Interest accrues on your balance. You make no monthly payments. When your term ends — or when you're ready — you repay by refinancing, selling, or paying in full.
Who This Is For
Real situations.
Real homeowners.
You don't need a crisis to qualify. You need home equity and a situation where pausing payments makes financial sense. The consultation will tell you where you stand.
Between Jobs or on Reduced Hours
A layoff, a contract ending, a reduction in hours — any of these can make a mortgage payment suddenly unworkable. Pausing gives you time to land without losing your home.
Self-Employed or Variable Income
Your income is real — it just doesn't always arrive on a fixed schedule. Income requirements here are assessed differently than at a traditional bank.
Carrying High-Interest Debt
When mortgage payments compete with credit card debt, lines of credit, and daily costs, the math stops working. Freeing up that monthly payment can change the equation entirely.
Navigating Separation or Divorce
Keeping the family home during a separation often means carrying a mortgage on a single income. Pausing payments can protect the home while you restructure.
Medical Leave or Caregiving
Health challenges and caregiving responsibilities don't pause for mortgage due dates. This structure can give you the space to focus on what actually matters right now.
Strategic Cash Flow Management
Not every client is in distress. Some use this proactively — to redirect capital, bridge a business opportunity, or create a financial cushion during a period of change.
An Important Distinction
Pausing your mortgage is not the same
as missing a payment.
This is the question most people have but rarely say out loud. Here is the clear answer.
A structured, lender-approved arrangement
- Approved by the lender before payments stop — it is a formal agreement, not an exception
- Interest accrues and is tracked — nothing is forgiven, nothing is hidden
- Your credit is not affected during the pause period
- You remain in good standing for the full term
- You retain complete legal ownership and control of your home
- A defined exit path is part of the structure from day one
An unplanned failure to meet an obligation
- Occurs without lender knowledge or approval
- Triggers late fees, penalties, and legal notices
- Damages your credit score — sometimes significantly
- Can trigger power of sale proceedings
- Creates a record on your mortgage file that follows you
- Has no structured resolution built into it
Understanding the Numbers
Your balance will grow.
Here's what that looks like.
Transparency is how this works. Interest accrues on your balance during the pause — we show you the exact projection before you sign anything. Here is a simplified illustration based on a $500,000 mortgage.
The rate is fixed for your full term
Your rate is set at funding and does not change during the term — so your balance growth is predictable from day one.
Interest compounds daily
Interest accrues daily and compounds over the term. The longer the term, the more equity cushion the lender requires at the start.
You will see your full projection before signing
We will show you your estimated balance at every year of your term, and what that leaves you in equity — so your decision is fully informed.
Illustrative example only. Based on $500,000 mortgage at approximately 6% annually. Actual figures depend on your rate, term, and lender. Full projection provided at consultation.
Still weighing it up?
Get the full guide to paused payment mortgages — costs, eligibility, and the questions to ask.
Eligibility at a Glance
What lenders generally
look for.
This is high-level guidance — not a qualification checklist. Every situation is different, and the consultation will give you a clear answer for yours.
Property
Owner-occupied residential property — freehold or condominium. Located in Ontario, Alberta, or British Columbia. Property must be in good condition and marketable.
Home Equity
Sufficient equity in your home to support the mortgage advance. The exact amount depends on your term and lender — your broker will calculate this for your specific situation.
Credit Score
Minimum 660 credit score required. Scores are assessed by Equifax or TransUnion. Higher scores may access better terms and rates.
Income
Income is confirmed — not to carry mortgage payments, but to demonstrate your ability to service other debts and property taxes during the pause period.
Title
Property must be held in personal name. Holding companies and corporations are not eligible. Title must be clear of unresolved disputes.
Appraisal
A full appraisal by an approved appraiser is always required. In some cases, an inspection may also be requested by the lender.
How It Compares
Not all mortgages are built
for this moment.
Each of these products serves a different purpose. Here is an honest look at how they differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Need
to Know.
Everything you need to understand a paused payments mortgage so you arrive at your discovery session informed and ready.
Still have questions?
The consultation is the right place to bring your specific situation. It's private, informative, and there's no obligation to proceed.
Client Stories
What homeowners say
after the pause.
Names and details are changed to protect privacy. Shared with permission.
"I had been self-employed for six years and every bank I approached treated my income like it wasn't real. The consultation was the first time someone actually explained my options rather than just telling me I didn't fit. We paused for two years, I restructured my business, and I came out the other side with my home and my finances in order."
"When my marriage ended, keeping the house felt impossible on one income. My broker showed me exactly what the balance would look like at one year, two years, and three years — so I could make a real decision. I took the two-year term, got back on my feet, and refinanced. Having the numbers clearly laid out made all the difference."
"I wasn't in trouble — I just saw an opportunity and needed my cash flow free for twelve months. The process was straightforward, the terms were clear, and I knew exactly what I was signing. Used the freed-up capital for an investment that paid off well before my term ended. Repaid in full, no penalty."
Get Started
Find out where
you stand.
The first step is a conversation. Tell us a little about your situation and we'll reach out to schedule a private consultation — no credit pull, no pressure, no obligation.
By submitting this form you consent to being contacted by a licensed mortgage broker. Your information is never shared or sold.