Is Rateshop a mortgage broker?
RateShop is a marketplace. We collect rates, document what each lender's programs actually say, and publish the math — all of it free. When you want to act on it, a licensed broker takes the file from there. How we are paid.
What does any of this cost me?
Nothing. Every rate, every calculator and every lender profile is free and none of it is gated. We ask for an email in two places only: to send you a PDF report you asked for, and to remind you before your renewal. Neither is required to use anything.
How do you decide which lenders to show?
We publish every lender we can get verified pricing for, ordered by rate, and we never accept payment for placement or ordering. Where a lender is unusually good or bad for a particular kind of file we say so, including when that is unflattering. Our editorial policy sets out the method.
Why does your calculator give a different payment than my bank's?
Canadian mortgages compound semi-annually, not monthly. A lot of free calculators use the American monthly formula, which overstates the payment. Ours uses the Canadian convention, which is what your lender actually charges — and we show the formula rather than asking you to take our word for it.