Коротко: OSFI B-20 stress test (актуальний у 2026) вимагає qualify на mortgage rate 2% вище за contract rate, АБО 5.25%, whichever higher. Це означає що при contract rate 4.5% ти qualifying на 6.5% (4.5 + 2). Effect: твоя purchasing power падає ~15-20%. Дано $150K household income та 20% down: можеш qualify на $750-850K замість $1M. Цей пост — точна математика GDS/TDS ratios + як FHSA + RRSP HBP combo допомагає increase down payment.

Що таке stress test і чому existing

OSFI (Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions) запровадив stress test 2018 року щоб запобігти situations де rate hikes ставлять homeowners у default. Логіка: якщо ти можеш only barely afford payment at current rate, hike +1% збанкрутить тебе.

Rule (B-20 Guideline, актуальний у 2026): для qualifying на mortgage, banks мають assess твою ability to pay при higher of:

Contract rate + 2.0%
5.25% benchmark rate

Перший hits більшість borrowers на сьогодні (5-year fixed ~5%, stress = 7%; 5-year variable ~6%, stress = 8%). Тільки якщо contract rate нижче за 3.25% benchmark 5.25% kick in (rare in 2026).

⚠️ EMD compliance disclaimer: Це освітній матеріал, не mortgage advice. Mortgage products = поза моєю EMD ліцензією. Для actual mortgage application — licensed mortgage broker (CMBA registered).

GDS і TDS ratios

Banks використовують два ratios для qualifying:

GDS (Gross Debt Service)

Максимум 39% твого pre-tax income можна spend на housing costs:

Mortgage payment (principal + interest при stress rate)
Property tax
Heat (estimated, typically $100-200/міс)
50% condo fees (якщо condo)

Formula: GDS = (Monthly housing costs / Gross monthly income) × 100. ≤ 39% required.

TDS (Total Debt Service)

Максимум 44% твого pre-tax income на ALL debt service:

Все з GDS
Plus car loan payments
Plus student loan payments
Plus credit card minimum payments
Plus line of credit payments

Formula: TDS = (Monthly all debt / Gross monthly income) × 100. ≤ 44% required.

Effective bottleneck: GDS 39% для більшості first-time buyers (нема серйозних other debts). TDS 44% bites якщо є car loan + student loan + credit card balance.

Конкретна математика: $150K household, $200K down payment

Дано:

Household income $150,000/рік ($12,500/міс gross)
Down payment $200,000 (20% threshold для no CMHC)
Property tax $5,000/рік ($417/міс) — typical Calgary
Heat $150/міс
Condo fees $0 (detached home)

GDS calculation backwards

Max monthly housing cost = $12,500 × 39% = $4,875.

Available for mortgage payment (after tax + heat) = $4,875 - $417 - $150 = $4,308/міс.

Mortgage size at stress test rate

Contract rate 4.5% (5-year fixed), stress = 6.5%, amortization 25 років.

Monthly payment $4,308 at 6.5% over 25 years backwards-solves до:

Loan principal = ~$640,000

Plus $200,000 down payment = $840,000 total home price maximum.

Same scenario без stress test

If qualifying at contract rate 4.5% directly:

$4,308 at 4.5% × 25 yrs = ~$775,000 loan
Plus $200K down = $975,000 maximum

Difference: stress test cuts ~$135K (~14%) off your purchasing power.

TDS spoils the math з other debts

Той самий $150K income, but has car loan $400/міс + student loan $300/міс + credit card minimum $100/міс = $800/міс other debt.

TDS limit = $12,500 × 44% = $5,500. Available for housing = $5,500 - $800 - $417 - $150 = $4,133 (vs $4,308 in pure GDS scenario).

New max loan at 6.5% × 25 yrs = ~$614K. Total home $814K.

Other debts cost you $30K of home purchasing power in this example.

Down payment thresholds

CMHC insurance required if down payment under 20%. CMHC premium = % of mortgage amount, added to monthly payment:

| Down payment | CMHC premium | |---|---| | 5-9.99% | 4.00% | | 10-14.99% | 3.10% | | 15-19.99% | 2.80% | | 20%+ | $0 (no insurance) |

On $640K mortgage with 19% down: CMHC premium = 2.80% × $640K = $17,920 added до mortgage. On 20% down: $0. Hence the "20% threshold magic".

For home prices above $1M: CMHC unavailable, banks require minimum 20% down. Cap of $1M effectively forces stress test math on top of 20% down requirement.

FHSA + RRSP HBP combo для down payment

This is where SkyFort strategy comes in. To hit 20% down on $840K home = $168K cash needed.

Combination tools для українця-newcomer at year 3-5 у Канаді:

FHSA (First Home Savings Account)

$8,000/рік ліміт, $40,000 lifetime. Open immediately (room starts at opening, not earlier). 5 years × $8K = $40K if you start year 1 of residency.

Tax bonus: contributions deductible from income (як RRSP), withdrawal for home tax-free (як TFSA). Double-shelter.

RRSP HBP (Home Buyers' Plan)

Borrow up to $60,000 from your own RRSP for first home, tax-free withdrawal. Repay over 15 years starting year 2 after withdrawal.

If you've maxed RRSP contributions in years 1-5 of residency (typically $15-25K/рік depending on income), you have $60K+ available for HBP.

Combined power

Single buyer: $40K FHSA + $60K HBP = $100K cash for down payment, all tax-advantaged.

Couple: both max FHSA + HBP = $200K cash. Hits 20% threshold on $1M home if needed.

Math для $840K home target

20% of $840K = $168K down required. Strategy:

Both spouses max FHSA: 2 × $40K = $80K
Both max HBP: 2 × $60K = $120K (but use only $88K of $120K available)
Total: $168K with $32K HBP room unused як buffer

Time to accumulate FHSA: 5 years at $8K/yr each = 5 years total. Plus year-by-year RRSP contributions to accumulate HBP capacity.

For typical newcomer family hitting Canada in 2024, real first-home purchase realistic year 5-7. SkyFort newcomer roadmap у Перший рік у Канаді чек-лист.

Stress test by province

Stress test is federal (OSFI rule), applies всюди. But provincial costs vary:

Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer):

No land transfer tax
Property tax typically $4-6K/yr on $700K home
Low cost of insurance

British Columbia (Vancouver, Burnaby):

Land transfer tax: 1% on first $200K + 2% on next $1.8M + 3% above $2M
Foreign buyer additional 20%
Speculation tax 0.5-2% on vacant homes

Ontario (Toronto, Mississauga, etc.):

Land transfer tax: 0.5-2.5% sliding scale + Toronto adds another LTT
Property tax $5-8K/yr на typical home
First-time buyer rebate $4,000 on LTT

Closing costs typically 1.5-4% of purchase price depending on province.

Pitfalls які стирають purchasing power

1. Variable vs fixed rate

Variable rate often shows lower contract rate ("3.95%") but same stress test +2% applies. Math equivalent. Don't think variable = "easier qualifying".

2. Don't apply with high credit card balance

Banks see TDS spike if cards near limit. Pay down balance to under 50% utilization at least 60 days before application. Credit score affects rate (each 50-point band typically 0.10-0.25% difference).

3. Pre-approval ≠ approval

Pre-approval based on income docs only. Final approval requires property appraisal + clean inspection. Don't waive financing condition in your offer until you have actual approval.

4. Counting bonus / variable income

Banks discount variable income (RSU, bonus, commission) typically to 50-70% of average over 2 years. T4 base salary counts fully. If your $150K is $100K base + $50K RSU, qualifying income might be closer to $130K.

5. Self-employed = harder qualifying

CCPC owner: banks want 2 years of T1 tax returns + financial statements. Often demand higher down payment (20-25%) or higher rate (0.25-0.5% surcharge).

Action plan

Pull credit report at Borrowell or Equifax (free) — fix errors, pay down balances
Calculate your GDS/TDS — use simple spreadsheet with current income
Estimate down payment trajectory — FHSA + RRSP HBP combo на 5-year horizon
Get pre-approval from 2-3 lenders for rate comparison (typically 0.25-0.5% spread)
Use a broker — they shop multiple lenders for free (paid by bank), often get better rate than direct-to-bank

Mortgage calculator з усіма цими формулами — Калькулятор канадської іпотеки.

Перша іпотека у Калгарі деталі — Перша іпотека в Калгарі: повний гайд.

Mortgage stress test математика: чому твій $1M будинок став $800K (2026)