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Debt Consolidation in 2026: Why More Canadians Are Choosing Equity Over Credit Cards

In 2026, Canadian households aren’t just feeling pressure — they’re feeling compression.
January 5, 2026 by
Debt Consolidation in 2026: Why More Canadians Are Choosing Equity Over Credit Cards
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Credit cards are maxed.

Lines of credit are shrinking.

Minimum payments keep rising.

And quietly, more homeowners are making a strategic shift:

they’re consolidating debt using home equity instead of credit cards.

Not out of desperation — but out of math.

Credit Cards Are No Longer a Short-Term Fix

What used to feel manageable has become a long-term trap.

In 2026, many Canadians are facing:

  • Credit card interest rates of 19%–29%

  • Lines of credit frozen or reduced

  • Minimum payments that barely touch principal

  • Growing balances despite “good credit”

Debt that was once temporary is now permanent stress.

Why Home Equity Is Becoming the Preferred Solution

1. The Interest Rate Gap Is Too Big to Ignore

Comparing options:

  • Credit cards: ~20%–29%

  • Personal loans: ~10%–14%

  • Equity-based lending: often significantly lower

Even when equity solutions aren’t “cheap,” they are materially more efficient than revolving consumer debt.

That difference compounds every month.

2. One Payment Beats Five

Many homeowners are juggling:

  • Multiple credit cards

  • Auto loans

  • Personal loans

  • Tax arrears

Equity-based consolidation replaces chaos with:

  • One predictable payment

  • Clear amortization

  • Defined exit strategy

Less stress. More control.

3. Banks Are Pulling Back on Unsecured Credit

In 2026, banks are:

  • Reducing unsecured limits

  • Freezing HELOC increases

  • Reassessing credit exposure at renewal

Ironically, homeowners with equity are being told:

“We can’t help — but don’t miss your payments.”

That’s pushing borrowers to look beyond traditional credit products.

4. Equity Is Stable — Credit Isn’t

Credit limits can disappear overnight.

Home equity doesn’t.

As long as you own real estate with value, equity-based lending:

  • Is asset-backed

  • Doesn’t rely on daily credit score fluctuations

  • Can be structured with flexibility

That stability matters in uncertain times.

What Canadians Are Consolidating in 2026

Homeowners are using equity to consolidate:

  • Credit card balances

  • Personal and payday loans

  • CRA tax arrears

  • Legal fees

  • Business debt

  • Short-term cash flow gaps

The goal isn’t more debt.

It’s better debt structure.

Why Waiting Often Makes Consolidation Harder

The longer high-interest debt sits:

  • The harder it is to qualify later

  • The more equity gets eaten by interest

  • The fewer refinancing options remain

Early action preserves options.

Late action limits them.

Where Lendworth Financial Corp. Fits In

At Lendworth, debt consolidation isn’t about selling a product.

It’s about:

  • Evaluating whether equity makes sense

  • Structuring realistic payments

  • Preserving long-term ownership

  • Creating a clear path forward

We look at the whole picture, not just the balances.

The Bottom Line

In 2026, Canadians aren’t choosing equity because they failed.

They’re choosing it because:

  • Credit cards stopped working

  • Banks stopped expanding limits

  • And math stopped making excuses

Debt consolidation using home equity isn’t a bailout.

It’s a reset.

If high-interest debt is controlling your cash flow, your home may already hold the solution.

📞 Talk to a real person about your options

Call 905-597-1225 or visit www.lendworth.ca

Your equity deserves more™