Question 1

Can I get a mortgage in Canada if I am self-employed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Lenders usually want two years of verifiable income. If your taxable income is low because of write-offs, the file may need a B-lender or a larger down payment. Artisan will say which lane you are in after we see the NOAs.

Question 2

Do lenders use gross or net income?

Accepted Answer

A lenders use reported / net taxable income, often a two-year average. They do not use top-line sales. Bank-statement programs look at deposits instead — those are a different product with different pricing.

Question 3

What if I have been incorporated for less than two years?

Accepted Answer

CMHC notes flexibility when you have related experience in the same line of work. Some lenders still want twenty-four months. We do not invent a workaround that the insurer will not accept.