Mortgage · Credit score · September 14, 2026
The real thresholds by loan type, what the score changes on the rate, the two other doors that close a file, and the method to gain 50 points.
To buy a house in Quebec with an insured mortgage (less than 20% down), the mortgage insurers (CMHC, Sagen, Canada Guaranty) require a credit score of at least 600 for at least one borrower, on Equifax's and TransUnion's 300-to-900 scale; conventional lenders generally reserve their best terms for files of 680 and up, and under 600 what remains is alternative lenders, with a higher rate and a bigger down payment, often 20% or more. The score is only one of three doors: the debt ratios (39% and 44% of gross income) and the stress test (6.09% with a 4.09% rate on September 11, 2026) close as many files. The score can be raised in a few months: pay on time, keep card utilization under 30%, open no credit before applying, correct errors in the file. The Loaa and Manseur team connects buyers with mortgage partners; its services are paid by the seller's commission.
| Situation | Credit score (Equifax or TransUnion, 300 to 900) | What it gives |
|---|---|---|
| Insured mortgage (less than 20% down, CMHC, Sagen or Canada Guaranty premium) | 600 minimum for at least one borrower | Access to insured rates, the lowest on the market (4.09% on 5 years on September 11, 2026) |
| Conventional mortgage (20% and up), big banks and credit unions | 680 and up for the best terms; 620 to 679 possible with more scrutiny | Best rates and terms, choice of lenders |
| Under 600, or recent history (bankruptcy, consumer proposal, newcomer) | Alternative ("B") or private lenders | Higher rate, down payment often 20% or more, fees; to refinance after one or two years |
These thresholds are the insurers' requirements and lenders' common practices; each institution keeps its own rules and reads the full file, not just the number. A 720 with recent late payments weighs less than a clean 680 for five years.
A good score is not enough. The lender also calculates the debt ratios (39% of gross income for housing, 44% with all debts, CMHC guidelines) and applies the stress test: the payment is calculated at the higher of 5.25% or the rate plus 2 points, that is 6.09% with a 5-year at 4.09%. Our page borrowing capacity gives calculated examples, and our pre-approval guide each step.
Equifax and TransUnion give access to your file; several banks and apps show the score for free, with no effect on it (a "soft" inquiry). Read the file, not just the number: accounts, late payments, balances, recent inquiries, errors. An error (an account that is not yours, a late payment already settled) can be disputed with the agency and can be worth dozens of points.
Newcomer without a history: lenders have dedicated programs; our guide newcomer mortgage with no credit history.
600 for at least one borrower on an insured mortgage (less than 20% down), according to the requirements of the mortgage insurers CMHC, Sagen and Canada Guaranty; 680 and up for the best terms at conventional lenders; under 600, alternative lenders, with a higher rate and a bigger down payment. The debt ratios and the stress test apply in every case.
Yes, with an insured mortgage if the rest of the file holds (stable income, ratios under 39% and 44%, stress test at 6.09%, down payment of at least 5%); the lender reads the full file, and recent late payments can close the door despite the number. A mortgage broker knows which lenders accept which profiles.
Three to six months are often enough to gain 30 to 50 points: on-time payments, card utilization under 30%, no new credit application, correction of errors. A bankruptcy or consumer proposal stays on file for six years (longer for a repeat), but lenders mostly look at the behaviour of the last two years.
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.
Équipe no 1 de RE/MAX Platine en 2024 et en 2025, 6e au Québec, 15e au Canada et dans le top 50 mondial au classement officiel RE/MAX. Réponse en moins de 24 heures, sept jours sur sept.