Mortgage Renewal Wave: Realtor Strategy Guide

If you’re a realtor looking for your next wave of business, it’s already here. Roughly 1.2 million Canadians are up for mortgage renewal this year and next — and most of them are about to see their payments jump significantly. That’s a massive opportunity for you to step in, solve a real problem, and close more deals.

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Why the Renewal Wave Matters

Here’s what’s happening. Homeowners who locked in pre-COVID or during-COVID rates got historically low interest rates. Those terms are expiring. When they renew, their rate goes up — and so does their monthly payment.

But it gets worse. When you renew a mortgage, you keep the remaining amortization. So if someone started with a 25-year term and they’ve got 14 years left, they renew at a higher rate but still have to pay it off in 14 years. That combination — higher rate plus shorter amortization — crushes monthly payments.

A lot of homeowners maximized their debt ratios when they first bought. They were already stretched at the lower payment. Now that payment is going up, and they’re in trouble.

The Refinancing Strategy That Saves Clients Money

This is where a smart mortgage broker who understands investment financing becomes the hero.

Instead of just accepting the renewal, we look at structuring it as a refinance. We’re not necessarily giving the client extra cash — what we’re doing is resetting their amortization. We bring them back up to a 25- or even standardized 30-year amortization periods, which drops their monthly payment to something they can actually afford.

Think about that. Same property. Same mortgage balance. But a dramatically lower monthly payment because we extended the payoff period. For a homeowner who’s panicking about renewal, that’s a game-changer.

If your clients closed 3-5 years ago, they’re hitting renewal right now — and their payments are likely crushing cash flow. Book a free strategy call with LendCity and we’ll show you how to extend the amortization and drop those payments back to something actually affordable.

How Realtors Turn Renewals Into Closed Deals

So here’s how you, as a realtor, use this to close more deals.

Step one: Go through your past transactions from three to five years ago. Every one of those clients is either coming up for renewal or already in it. Reach out to them.

Step two: Let them know what’s coming. Most people don’t think about their mortgage until the renewal letter shows up. By then, they’re reactive. You want to be proactive.

Step three: Present the options. There are really three paths:

Refinance to extend amortization — Lower the payment by stretching the term. They keep the property, keep building equity, and breathe easier every month.
Shop the renewal rate — Many lenders assume clients won’t shop around. Their renewal offers are often not aggressive. A mortgage broker can compare rates across dozens of lenders and frequently beat the renewal offer.
Sell or downsize — If the payment truly doesn’t work and refinancing can’t fix it, selling becomes the smart move. And that’s where you come in as their realtor.

Every single one of these options generates business for you. You either connect them with a mortgage professional (hello, referral relationship), or you help them sell. Either way, you’re the person who solved their problem.

Don’t Let Clients Just Accept the Renewal Letter

Here’s something most people don’t realize. Banks and lenders send renewal documents expecting clients to sign without shopping around. And many do — because it’s easy.

But those renewal rates? They’re often not competitive. Lenders know most people won’t bother comparing. We’ve seen it over and over — a client brings us their renewal offer, we shop it around, and we save them real money. Sometimes it’s a small difference. Sometimes it’s significant.

Not every renewal rate is bad. Some lenders do offer competitive renewals. But you won’t know unless you check. And your clients deserve that check.

Don’t let your clients just accept whatever renewal rate the bank throws at them — we shop it around and find better rates all the time. Schedule a free strategy session with us to see if we can save your client real money on their next renewal.

Your Action Plan

Pull your transaction list from three to five years ago
Reach out to every past client — a quick call or email about the renewal wave
Connect them with a mortgage professional who can analyze their renewal options
Position yourself as the solution — whether that’s a referral to refinance or listing their home

The renewal wave isn’t slowing down. 1.2 million Canadians are dealing with this right now. The realtors who reach out first are the ones who’ll close the deals.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Canadians are affected by the mortgage renewal wave?

Roughly 1.2 million Canadians are up for mortgage renewal this year and next. Many of these homeowners locked in at historically low pre-COVID or COVID-era rates and are now facing significantly higher payments.

Why do mortgage payments increase so much at renewal?

Two things hit at once. First, the interest rate goes up from the ultra-low rate they had before. Second, the amortization period is shorter — they only get the remaining years, not a fresh 25- or 30-year term. Higher rate plus shorter payoff period equals a much larger monthly payment.

Can homeowners extend their amortization at renewal?

Not through a standard renewal — you're stuck with the remaining amortization. But if you refinance instead of renewing, you can reset to a 25- or 30-year amortization. This drops the monthly payment significantly, even at a higher interest rate.

Should clients always shop their renewal rate?

Yes. Many lenders send renewal offers that aren't competitive because they assume clients won't compare. A mortgage broker can shop the rate across dozens of lenders and often find a better deal. It doesn't always make a difference, but when it does, the savings are real.

How can realtors benefit from the renewal wave?

Realtors can reach out to past clients from 3-5 years ago who are hitting renewal. By connecting them with a mortgage professional for refinancing options or helping those who need to sell or downsize, you position yourself as the problem-solver and generate new business.

What's the difference between renewing and refinancing a mortgage?

Renewing means accepting a new rate for the remaining amortization — you can't change the term length. Refinancing is a new mortgage altogether, which lets you reset the amortization to 25 or 30 years, potentially switch lenders, and access equity if needed.

Disclaimer: LendCity Mortgages is a licensed mortgage brokerage, and our team includes experienced real estate investors. While we are qualified to provide mortgage-related guidance, the broader financial, tax, and legal information in this article is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial planning, tax, or legal advice. For matters outside mortgage financing, we recommend consulting a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), licensed financial planner, or qualified legal advisor.

Written by

LendCity

Published

February 17, 2026

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5 min read

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The Mortgage Renewal Wave Is Here: How Realtors Can Close More Deals