“Your income doesn’t qualify.”
“Come back with two more years of tax returns.”
“We can’t make an exception.”
Here’s the uncomfortable truth 👇
It’s not that you can’t afford the mortgage — it’s that banks don’t know how to underwrite you anymore.
The Banking System Wasn’t Built for You
Canadian mortgage rules were designed for one borrower type:
salaried
predictable paycheques
T4 income
9–5 employment
That world is disappearing fast.
Today’s reality?
Retirees living off investments
Business owners optimizing taxes
Realtors, sales professionals, and contractors paid on commission
Incorporated professionals paying themselves strategically
Banks call this “risk.”
In reality, it’s rigid underwriting.
Why Banks Say “No” (Even When You’re Strong)
Let’s break down the disconnect.
1. Retired ≠ Unemployed
Banks still treat retirement like a red flag.
Even if you have:
significant home equity
investment income
pensions or dividends
If it doesn’t fit neatly into their software, it doesn’t count.
2. Self-Employed ≠ Unstable
Most self-employed Canadians intentionally reduce taxable income.
Banks see:
lower net income
write-offs
retained earnings they don’t credit
What they don’t see?
The actual strength of your balance sheet.
3. Commissioned Income ≠ Risky
Commission income fluctuates — but that doesn’t mean it’s unreliable.
Banks average, haircut, or discount it aggressively, often ignoring:
long earning history
industry demand
assets and equity backing the loan
The Result? Qualified Homeowners Get Boxed Out
We see it every week:
mortgage renewals denied
HELOCs frozen
refinances blocked
opportunities lost
Not because borrowers are weak — but because the bank model is outdated.
How Private Mortgages Look at This Differently
Private lenders underwrite reality, not templates.
Instead of obsessing over T4s, they focus on:
property value
equity position
location and marketability
exit strategy
Income still matters — but it’s contextual, not absolute.
If you own real estate with strong equity, you’re not “unbankable.”
You’re just misunderstood by banks.
This Is Where Borrowers Win Back Control
For retirees, self-employed borrowers, and commissioned professionals, private mortgages are often used to:
refinance at renewal
consolidate debt
unlock equity
bridge timing gaps
restructure cash flow
The goal isn’t permanent private financing.
The goal is flexibility, speed, and control.
The Bottom Line
Banks didn’t evolve — borrowers did.
If your financial life doesn’t look like a spreadsheet from 1998, stop forcing it into one.
Your income may be unconventional.
Your equity isn’t.
That difference matters.
Thinking the bank doesn’t “get” your situation?
That’s not a dead end — it’s a signal to look at better options.
Private mortgage solutions exist specifically for people like you — and they’re becoming the norm, not the exception.