Buying · 50 cities · mortgage 2026
One page per city, same calculation: what a 30-year rather than 25-year amortization changes for the payment, required income and interest, median house and condo, in 2026.
With the minimum down payment and a 4.09% rate, a 30-year rather than 25-year amortization lowers the median house payment by a median $294 a month across the 50 cities tracked (median 25-year payment: $3,169, median price $610,000) and the required income by about $8,000. For the median condo (40 cities, $397,000), the median drop is $194 a month (median 25-year payment: $2,082). The cost: CMHC's 0.20-point surcharge (about $1,136 on the house) and about $82,932 more interest over the life of the loan if the rate stayed the same, with no prepayment. Thirty years on an insured loan has been allowed since December 15, 2024 for first-time buyers and new builds. Source: Centris (Matrix) for prices, compiled October 31, 2026.
The 50 cities, from biggest to smallest savings
Monthly payment over 25 years / over 30 years with the minimum down payment and the CMHC premium, at a 4.09% rate, then the savings per month and the drop in required income for the median house.
| City | Median house | House payment, 25 / 30 years | Savings per month | Required income drop | Condo payment, 25 / 30 years | Condo savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westmount | $2,272,500 | $9,652 / $8,738 | $914 | $25,008 | $4,287 / $3,889 | $398 |
| Saint-Lambert | $1,120,000 | $5,704 / $5,173 | $531 | $14,396 | $2,334 / $2,117 | $217 |
| Beaconsfield | $1,031,000 | $5,261 / $4,772 | $489 | $13,280 | no reliable median | n/a |
| Kirkland | $955,000 | $4,884 / $4,430 | $454 | $12,327 | no reliable median | n/a |
| Candiac | $866,000 | $4,441 / $4,029 | $412 | $11,210 | $2,497 / $2,265 | $232 |
| Rosemère | $845,000 | $4,337 / $3,934 | $403 | $10,948 | no reliable median | n/a |
| Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville | $819,500 | $4,210 / $3,819 | $391 | $10,628 | $2,591 / $2,350 | $241 |
| Boucherville | $810,000 | $4,163 / $3,776 | $387 | $10,508 | $2,712 / $2,460 | $252 |
| Dollard-des-Ormeaux | $792,500 | $4,076 / $3,697 | $379 | $10,288 | $2,413 / $2,189 | $224 |
| Blainville | $760,000 | $3,915 / $3,551 | $364 | $9,881 | $2,250 / $2,041 | $209 |
| Montreal | $755,000 | $3,890 / $3,528 | $362 | $9,818 | $2,497 / $2,265 | $232 |
| Pointe-Claire | $745,500 | $3,843 / $3,485 | $358 | $9,699 | $3,039 / $2,756 | $283 |
| La Prairie | $740,000 | $3,815 / $3,461 | $354 | $9,630 | $2,176 / $1,973 | $203 |
| Brossard | $734,200 | $3,787 / $3,434 | $353 | $9,557 | $2,119 / $1,922 | $197 |
| Dorval | $712,500 | $3,679 / $3,337 | $342 | $9,286 | $2,282 / $2,070 | $212 |
| Chambly | $689,000 | $3,562 / $3,231 | $331 | $8,991 | $2,164 / $1,963 | $201 |
| Sainte-Julie | $667,400 | $3,455 / $3,133 | $322 | $8,719 | $2,256 / $2,046 | $210 |
| Mirabel | $650,000 | $3,368 / $3,055 | $313 | $8,501 | $2,360 / $2,140 | $220 |
| Sainte-Thérèse | $650,000 | $3,368 / $3,055 | $313 | $8,501 | $1,954 / $1,772 | $182 |
| Varennes | $631,000 | $3,274 / $2,969 | $305 | $8,262 | $1,878 / $1,703 | $175 |
| Beloeil | $630,000 | $3,269 / $2,965 | $304 | $8,250 | $2,229 / $2,022 | $207 |
| Boisbriand | $630,000 | $3,269 / $2,965 | $304 | $8,250 | $2,906 / $2,636 | $270 |
| Laval | $630,000 | $3,269 / $2,965 | $304 | $8,250 | $2,256 / $2,046 | $210 |
| Saint-Constant | $620,000 | $3,219 / $2,920 | $299 | $8,125 | $2,174 / $1,972 | $202 |
| Mascouche | $615,000 | $3,194 / $2,897 | $297 | $8,062 | $1,941 / $1,760 | $181 |
| Vaudreuil-Dorion | $605,000 | $3,144 / $2,852 | $292 | $7,937 | $2,019 / $1,832 | $187 |
| Longueuil | $602,000 | $3,130 / $2,839 | $291 | $7,899 | $2,019 / $1,832 | $187 |
| Magog | $600,000 | $3,120 / $2,830 | $290 | $7,875 | $1,757 / $1,594 | $163 |
| Terrebonne | $599,000 | $3,115 / $2,825 | $290 | $7,861 | $2,004 / $1,817 | $187 |
| Repentigny | $588,000 | $3,060 / $2,775 | $285 | $7,723 | $1,736 / $1,575 | $161 |
| Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | $577,000 | $3,005 / $2,726 | $279 | $7,585 | $1,962 / $1,779 | $183 |
| L'Île-Perrot | $561,500 | $2,928 / $2,656 | $272 | $7,391 | $2,122 / $1,924 | $198 |
| Saint-Jérôme | $547,500 | $2,859 / $2,593 | $266 | $7,215 | $1,652 / $1,499 | $153 |
| Châteauguay | $520,000 | $2,722 / $2,469 | $253 | $6,871 | $2,046 / $1,856 | $190 |
| Saint-Hyacinthe | $507,500 | $2,660 / $2,413 | $247 | $6,714 | $1,757 / $1,594 | $163 |
| Gatineau | $490,000 | $2,570 / $2,331 | $239 | $6,487 | $1,593 / $1,445 | $148 |
| Quebec City | $480,000 | $2,518 / $2,284 | $234 | $6,355 | $1,757 / $1,594 | $163 |
| Granby | $462,543 | $2,426 / $2,201 | $225 | $6,124 | $1,652 / $1,499 | $153 |
| Joliette | $460,000 | $2,413 / $2,189 | $224 | $6,090 | no reliable median | n/a |
| Sherbrooke | $458,500 | $2,405 / $2,181 | $224 | $6,070 | $1,668 / $1,513 | $155 |
| Lévis | $440,000 | $2,308 / $2,093 | $215 | $5,825 | $1,576 / $1,430 | $146 |
| Drummondville | $429,900 | $2,255 / $2,045 | $210 | $5,691 | no reliable median | n/a |
| Trois-Rivières | $410,000 | $2,151 / $1,951 | $200 | $5,428 | $1,626 / $1,475 | $151 |
| Val-d'Or | $400,000 | $2,098 / $1,903 | $195 | $5,296 | no reliable median | n/a |
| Rimouski | $395,000 | $2,072 / $1,879 | $193 | $5,230 | $1,490 / $1,351 | $139 |
| Sorel-Tracy | $391,750 | $2,055 / $1,864 | $191 | $5,187 | no reliable median | n/a |
| Rouyn-Noranda | $370,000 | $1,941 / $1,760 | $181 | $4,898 | no reliable median | n/a |
| Saguenay | $366,000 | $1,920 / $1,741 | $179 | $4,845 | $1,505 / $1,365 | $140 |
| Victoriaville | $366,000 | $1,920 / $1,741 | $179 | $4,845 | no reliable median | n/a |
| Sept-Îles | $275,000 | $1,442 / $1,308 | $134 | $3,641 | no reliable median | n/a |
What the table says
Thirty years lowers the median house payment by at least $200 a month in 43 of 50 cities, and the median condo payment by at least $100 in 40 of 40 cities. The biggest savings are in Westmount ($914 a month), the smallest in Sept-Îles ($134 a month). At the median, the required income for the house drops by $8,000 (5.8%). The cost, about $82,932 more interest over the life of the loan at the same rate, shrinks with every prepayment or a shorter amortization at renewal.
Who qualifies for 30 years?
Since December 15, 2024, an insured mortgage (down payment under 20%) can be amortized over 30 years for all first-time buyers, whatever the property, and for any purchase of a newly built home. CMHC then adds 0.20 percentage point to the insurance premium (for example, 4.00% becomes 4.20%). With 20% down or more, the loan is not insured and a 30-year amortization depends on the lender.
How to read the table
Assumptions: Centris median price (January to September 2026) of single-family houses and condos; minimum down payment (5% up to $500,000, 10% on the portion above, 20% above $1.5M); CMHC premium added to the loan (2026 schedule, + 0.20 point over 30 years); insured 5-year fixed rate of 4.09% kept for the whole term (a scenario, not a forecast), compounded semi-annually; minimum income at the stress test rate (6.09%) with property taxes at 1% of the price and $1,200 a year of heating, 39% debt ratio. The detailed cash is in how much cash to buy a house and how much cash to buy a condo; the time to save it in how long to save for a down payment.
Frequently asked questions
Is 25 or 30 years better?
Twenty-five years costs less interest; 30 years lowers the payment (a median $294 a month on the house) and the required income. For a first-time buyer, 30 years is often what makes buying possible now, and prepayments let you shorten it afterwards.
My city is not listed?
We publish the 50 cities where enough properties sell each year for a reliable median price. A team broker can run the same calculation for any area.
Our proof, not our promises
The Loaa & Manseur team, led by Lotfi Manseur and Loaa Al Daow, is the number 1 team at RE/MAX Platine in 2024 and 2025, 6th RE/MAX team in Quebec, 15th in Canada and in the global top 50 of large residential teams according to the official RE/MAX ranking, computed on actual transactions. Its Google profile counts more than 220 reviews with a 4.9 rating. Its offices are at 55 avenue de l'Équinoxe in Brossard, one bridge from the island, and every broker's licence can be checked in the OACIQ public register. Three things to verify yourself before calling us, and to demand of any other broker.
Also available in French: version française de ce guide.
Published September 7, 2026 by the Loaa & Manseur team, the number 1 team at RE/MAX Platine in 2024 and 2025, 6th RE/MAX team in Quebec, 15th in Canada and in the global top 50 according to the official RE/MAX ranking. Tell us about your project.