MortgageCompass Editorial Team 
Last reviewed: November 9, 2026 · MortgageCompass Editorial Team · How we research Three numbers before you decide $349.1bnheld in Australian mortgage offset accounts in March 2026, a record (ASIC) 4.85%RBA cash rate after the 3 November 2026 increase, the fifth of the year $55m+paid by banks to customers for offset accounts that were not
Last reviewed: November 5, 2026 · MortgageCompass Editorial Team · How we research Short answer: start from your situation There is no single best lender for every first-time buyer in Canada. The best one is the lender type that fits your file, chosen on rate, penalty rules and flexibility, not on the logo. Steady salary,
Last updated: November 1, 2026 · Updated after each central bank decision · By the MortgageCompass Editorial Team · How we research Short answer: most forecasters do not expect mortgage rates to fall soon. In the US, Fannie Mae now expects the 30-year fixed rate to average about 7.4% at the end of 2026 and
Last updated: November 1, 2026 · Rates as of October 29, 2026 · Updated monthly and after each Bank of Canada decision · By the MortgageCompass Editorial Team · How we research The lowest advertised five-year fixed mortgage rates in Canada are currently around 4.59% for insured mortgages and 5.00% for uninsured mortgages, with five-year
Last reviewed: November 1, 2026 · MortgageCompass Editorial Team · How we research The short answer In Canada, the mortgage you can afford is the lowest of three ceilings: what a lender will approve under the stress test, what your savings can cover at closing, and what you can pay every month and still live
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By the MortgageCompass Editorial Team · How we research The best home loan for a first home buyer in Australia is usually one from a lender that takes part in the federal 5% Deposit Scheme, combined with every grant and stamp duty concession your state offers. Together they can mean