Your home value

Whether you are purchasing a home or looking to refinance, determining a property’s value is an essential step in the mortgage application process.

Property value is key to determining the amount of the mortgage you’ll be offered.

How home value is measured

A home’s value is based on its features. These include square footage, location, age, quality and number of bedrooms and bathrooms.

A property’s value isn’t fixed. It’s a snapshot of what it’s worth in the current market in relation to what similar properties are selling for. Renovations will affect a home’s value. So will changes to the neighbourhood and in the housing market.

What you need to do

When you apply for a mortgage, your lender will ask you questions about the property. You’ll also need to give details about any renovation costs you plan to add to your mortgage.

Collect the information you’ll need in order to answer accurately by using our .

Professional home appraisal

The Appraisal Institute of Canada could help you or your lender during that process. Their guide (PDF) outlines all the steps to follow in order to perform a detailed assessment of your home.

Get the amount you need

If your home appraisal doesn’t support the mortgage amount you want, talk to your lender and real estate agent. They can help you explore your options.