Monday, 05 January 2026
By Mortgage Outlet
Leah Zlatkin featured in CMP Magazine: ‘Waiting for lower mortgage rates is costing borrowers, broker warns’
“Over the past few months, I’ve seen clients turn down fixed-rate renewal offers around 3.7% because they were convinced rates would keep falling,” said Leah Zlatkin, licensed mortgage broker.
“Now those same borrowers are coming back and finding that the best available rates start with a four. That delay is already resulting in higher monthly payments.”
Zlatkin said many borrowers misunderstood how quickly renewal offers could change.
Lenders typically held quoted rates for only 30 to 60 days, she noted, after which preferred pricing could disappear if markets moved against borrowers.
Even modest rate moves had outsized effects for households carrying large balances.
“Homeowners who value predictable payments shouldn’t be waiting for a perfect moment,” Zlatkin said.
“In this environment, waiting can mean paying more while gaining very little in return.”
The Bank of Canada has already warned that about 60% of mortgage holders renewing in 2025 and 2026 would face higher payments as they rolled off ultra‑low pandemic‑era loans.
Zlatkin previously urged borrowers to start planning four to six months before renewal and to model payments 15% to 20% higher to test their budgets.
