What moves it forward
- Your paperwork gathered before our first call.
- A down payment you can trace, with statements to back it.
- Quick answers to whatever the lender asks for.
- A pre-approval in hand before you start visiting.
Your Mortage Guide
Mortgage approval in Quebec, step by step
The short answer: it starts with a prequalification — a ballpark figure, nothing more. Then comes the pre-approval, where the lender reviews your income, your debts and the source of your down payment, documents in hand. Once the property is chosen and its appraisal accepted, the lender issues its final commitment, and the deed is signed at the notary’s office.
Step 2 of 5
Pre-approval — documents under review
In progress
File presented to several lenders
The overview
The whole path at a glance
Every file moves at its own pace. What never changes is the order of the steps and the documents each lender expects along the way.
- 01 Pre-qualification A first estimate
- 02 Pre-approval Documents in hand
- 03 Offer accepted Purchase promise
- 04 Final commitment Conditions cleared
- 05 At the notary Deed signed
The steps sometimes overlap: a pre-approval can be reviewed if your income, your debts or your down payment change along the way.
See each step in detail
In detail
Five steps, from first call to notary
Here is what actually happens at each step, what the lender looks at and what you need to provide.
Every file moves at its own pace. Timing is covered further down the page.
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Prequalification: a ballpark figure
We go over your income, your current debts, the down payment you have and your credit history. From that I estimate your borrowing capacity and a realistic monthly payment. Nothing is verified with a lender yet — it is a reference point to start house hunting.
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Pre-approval: backed by documents
The lender asks for proof: employment letters or financial statements, bank statements, ID, and the source and history of your down payment. Your credit file is pulled. You then get an amount backed by a lender and a rate held for a set period.
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Shopping the file to several lenders
As a mortgage broker authorized by the AMF, I present your file to several lenders instead of a single counter. We compare the rate, of course, but also prepayment privileges, penalties, portability and the conditions attached to each offer.
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Final commitment, once your offer is accepted
The accepted offer to purchase goes to the lender along with the property details. The lender validates the value and may require an appraisal. Remaining conditions — missing documents, inspection, home insurance — are cleared one by one before the written final commitment.
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Signing at the notary
In Quebec, the notary receives the deed of sale and the mortgage deed. They verify title, walk you through the documents and handle the disbursement of the lender's funds. You leave with the keys and a clear payment schedule.
How long between step one and the keys? It mostly depends on your documents. What speeds things up, what slows them down
Documents received
4 of 6
Your file
What the lender wants to see
The list changes with your situation. Here is what we gather together before your file goes out to lenders.
- Valid photo identification
- Recent pay stubs and an employment letter
- Notices of assessment and tax slips
- Bank and investment statements
- Source and history of the down payment
- Details of current debts: car loan, line of credit, cards
Bonuses, overtime or commissions? Keep the stubs and assessments from past years — it helps get that income recognized.
- Valid photo identification
- Notices of assessment for recent years
- Financial statements or company balance sheet
- Proof the business is registered
- Personal and business bank statements
- Down payment traced back to its source
Self-employed income reads differently than a salary. The better documented the file, the more comfortable lenders are with your reality.
- Photo ID for each borrower
- Proof of income for everyone on the file
- Savings and investment statements for recent months
- A signed gift letter if a relative is helping
- Signed offer and the property listing sheet
- A list of your debts, student loan included
Support programs exist for first-time buyers. We check the current conditions together with the official sources before building your scenario.
An indicative list: every lender has its own requirements. We review yours on the first call, then check them off as they come in.
Timelines and costs
What speeds a file up, what holds it back
Two similar files never move at the same speed. The difference comes down to the documents on file and how fast everyone answers, you and me included.
What makes it wait
- Variable or self-employed income that isn’t documented.
- Outstanding debts that need sorting out before the review.
- A property appraisal still waiting to be scheduled.
- Missing documents chased down one at a time.
Costs to plan for in Quebec
On top of the down payment, a few costs land around closing. Amounts depend on the property and the professionals you hire, so we put real figures on them from your own file.
Tools
Run the numbers before you commit
A simulation gives you a benchmark, not an approval. The real number comes out of your file: income, current debts, down payment and the chosen lender's rules.
Mortgage calculator
Adjust price, rate and amortization to see how the estimated payment moves.
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Welcome tax
Estimate the transfer duties to plan for at the notary's signing.
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Full calculator
The dedicated page, to compare several payment scenarios side by side.
The results shown are estimates for guidance only. Conditions, eligibility criteria and fees vary from one lender to another and must be confirmed on your file.
Verified reviews
What clients say about the process
Words from people who went through the same steps: pre-approval, offer, lender commitment, notary.
Etienne et son équipe ont été super efficace et excellente communication.
Maxime Rompré
Excellent service! M. Fleury est très professionnel, disponible et réactif. Explications claires et simples. Je recommande sans hésiter!
pat salehi
Nous avons eu une super expérience avec Étienne; un service personnalisé, attentionné et axé sur nos besoins. Il nous a proposé différents scénarios et a su nous guider dans le choix qui convenait le mieux à notre réalité tout en nous permettant de faire des économies intéressantes. Il est visiblement soucieux d'offrir des explications claires et s'assure de la satisfaction de ses clients à travers les différentes étapes du processus ! Nous le recommandons chaudement !!
Catherine St-Pierre
Étienne a été un excellent courtier hypothécaire pour mon dossier. Il a su être à l'écoute de mon projet d'achat de condo et me conseiller le bon produit.
Véronique Berthiaume
Service professionnel et personnalisé. J'ai apprécié la disponibilité à répondre à mes questions et le portail sécurisé qui facilite le dépôt des documents. Je recommande.
Cynthia Langlais
Excellent service! M. Fleury est très professionnel, disponible et réactif. Explications claires et simples. Je recommande sans hésiter!
Shiva Garavi
Service excellent On a beaucoup apprecie tous ses efforts .Beau travail
Marcel Cloutier
Excellent travail! Nous avons particulièrement apprécié la disponibilité, les conseils et l’accompagnement tout au long du processus.
Ilie Bogdan Parau
Frequently asked
The questions I hear most often
Short answers, no jargon. Your own file still deserves a proper review.
What is the difference between a prequalification and a pre-approval?
A prequalification is a quick estimate based on what you tell me about your income and debts. A pre-approval rests on documents a lender actually reviews, which gives you a far sturdier frame for visiting homes and making an offer.
What exactly is the lender's final commitment?
It is the final approval, issued once the property is known and the conditions are cleared: property appraisal, complete documents, lender verifications. Until then, a pre-approval stays conditional.
Why work with a mortgage broker instead of going straight to my bank?
A mortgage broker authorized by the Autorité des marchés financiers presents your file to several lenders, not just one. We compare the terms beyond the posted rate: prepayment privileges, penalties, how variable income is treated, down payment requirements.
What happens if a lender turns my file down?
A refusal is not a verdict. We look at the precise reason — missing paperwork, a debt to clear up, down payment funds to trace, credit history to strengthen — then fix it and reposition the file with a lender whose criteria fit your reality better.
What role does the notary play in Quebec?
In Quebec, the notary executes both the deed of sale and the mortgage deed. They verify the title, apply the lender's instructions and handle the disbursements. You sign at their office, then the keys change hands.
First purchase in Montreal or the South Shore: where do I start?
With a conversation, before you even start visiting. Whether your project is on the island, in Laval, Longueuil, Boucherville or Beloeil, we clarify your real capacity, where your down payment comes from and which incentives you might qualify for — to be confirmed with the official sources. Then you visit with a clear frame.
Next step
Let's go over your file before you start shopping.
A first call to review where you stand, with no obligation. You leave with a clear picture and the next steps.
Your broker
Etienne Fleury
Mortgage broker
Firm
Multi-Prêts Hypothèque - Équipe Caron
Phone
(438) 468-1123
Answers to your questions
Phone, video call or in person