Current mortgage rates Quebec | Best rates Quebec | Ratehub.ca (2024)

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Quebec at a glance

• Population: 8.6 million - 2nd most populous province in Canada
• Average Household Income: $59,822
• Percentage of Homeowners: 62%

Quebec housing market: May 2024 update

On May 15, 2024, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) published the April numbers for the national housing market, including sales, price and new inventory trends. The latest figures reveal that housing market activity in Quebec is continuing to rebound on both an annual and monthly basis. A total of 9,344 homes were sold in Quebec in the month of April, up by a significant 26% year over year, and well ahead of the previous month’s impressive total of 8,994. Continuing a trend seen over the last several months, a substantial number of new listings came to market; the 13,518 properties newly listed in April represent a huge annual increase of 32%, and slightly more than the 13,442 homes listed in March.

Despite the influx of new supply, the marked increase in buying activity has pushed up the average home price in Quebec, which stood at $516,020 in April. This marks an annual increase of 7%, and is also above March’s average price of $511,023. Buying conditions in Quebec have tightened on a monthly basis, with the province’s sales-to-new-listings ratio (SNLR) coming in at 69.1% in April, down on an annual basis by -3.3%, but above March’s figure of 66.9%. The Quebec housing market is now firmly in sellers’ market territory. CREA defines a ratio between 40 - 60% to reflect a balanced housing market, with above and below that threshold indicating sellers’ and buyers’ market conditions, respectively.

Read more: National home sales fall in April as buyers stick to the sidelines

What's the best mortgage rate in Quebec?

With nearly a quarter of Canada's population, Quebec is home to an extremely vibrant and competitive mortgage market. All of the Big 5 Banks are here, with the Bank of Montréal (BMO) and the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) both maintaining head offices in the province. Quebec is also the home of Canada's sixth largest bank, National Bank of Canada, and the Laurentian Bank of Canada. Credit unions are extremely popular in Quebec, which is home to the Desjardins Group, the largest federation of credit unions in North America. Numerous mortgage brokerages also vie for your business.

With this plethora of options, it's crucial to bear in mind that the ideal mortgage for you is not always the mortgage with the lowest rate. While a low rate is important and can save you thousands of dollars, you also need to make sure that the terms, conditions and features of your mortgage suit your needs.

What factors affect the mortgage rate I get?

Comparing mortgage products is an important part of getting the best possible mortgage rate, but you’ll still need to personally qualify for your final offer. There are several factors that will affect the rate you’re able to qualify for. Here are some of the major ones:

• Down payment: In Canada, property purchases require a minimum down payment between 5% and 20%, depending on the purchase price. However, if your down payment is less than 20%, you’ll have to pay for mortgage default insurance (also known as CMHC insurance). This will cost you more, but, as it makes your mortgage less risky from your lender’s perspective, it generally results in a lower mortgage rate. Note that even with a lower mortgage rate, it's still worth avoiding the cost of mortgage default insurance, so you should always aim to have a down payment of at least 20%.
• Amortization period: Mortgages with amortization periods of more than 25 years generally have higher interest rates. This is because this type of mortgage can't be insured with mortgage default insurance. Despite this, mortgages with longer amortization periods can be more financially manageable, because they mean a lower monthly payment for the homeowner.
• Property purpose: You’ll generally be offered a higher rate on a mortgage for a property that you don’t plan to personally live in.
• Mortgage type: A refinanced mortgage, or a mortgage with features like a home equity line of credit (HELOC), will typically come with a higher rate than a mortgage for a renewal or new purchase.
• Credit score: A low credit score may mean you cannot get approved by an ‘A lender’, like a big bank or credit union. If you’re forced to take a mortgage from a ‘B lender’, you’ll be charged a higher rate. The majority of homeowners in Canada have a strong credit score, so most mortgages are done with ‘A’ lenders.
  

Historical trends in Quebec mortgage rates

Quebec mortgage rates rise and fall, as do rates across Canada. Here’s a quick snapshot of the lowest mortgage rates of the year in Canada over the past few years, to give you an idea of where we are today.

Source: Ratehub Historical Rate Chart

Quebec land transfer tax

Like most other provinces in Canada, Quebec charges a land transfer tax on all property purchases. In Quebec, it's also called the taxe de bienvenue. Land transfer taxes are based on a percentage of the purchase price.

Below are Quebec's marginal land transfer tax rates outside of Montreal.

Montreal land transfer tax

Quebec allows for municipalities to set additional land transfer tax rates for higher property price brackets. This is only used in Montreal, where additional marginal tax rates are in place, as shown in the table below.

The bracket thresholds for Quebec land transfer taxes are indexed annually, based on the Quebec consumer price index.

Quebec first-time home buyers

Unlike some provinces, Quebec doesn't offer a rebate of the land transfer tax for first-time home buyers. However, Quebec's first-time home buyers are still eligible for first-time home buyer programs at the federal level. These can still result in thousands of dollars of savings, so it's well worth checking them out.

For more information, check out these helpful pages!

• Best Mortgage Rates in Canada
• Best Mortgage Rates in Montreal
• 5-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates
• 5-Year Variable Mortgage Rates
• Variable or Fixed Mortgage Rates
• Amortization Calculator
• Mortgage Term vs. Amortization
• Land Transfer Tax
• New to Canada Mortgages
• First-Time Home Buyer Programs

Sources:

1. Statistics Canada
2. APCIQ
3. CREA
4. Statistics Canada