Winnipeg home purchase mortgages
Buying a home in Winnipeg? Talk it through with someone in your corner.
It helps to know your numbers before you fall for a house. A licensed CENTUM® mortgage professional answers your questions in plain words, compares over 50 lenders for you, and lets you decide in your own time.
- Licensed mortgage professionals
- 25+ years serving Canadians
- A reply the same business day
Not sure you're ready to buy?
Most people aren't, at first. If prices, rates or the news have you second-guessing, a short conversation shows you where you stand before you spend your weekends at open houses.
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A budget you're comfortable with
Lenders test you at a higher rate. We also look at the payment you'd be happy to make, which can be lower.
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Your down payment, worked out
At least 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the part above it.
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Every closing cost, up front
Legal fees, title insurance, inspection, adjustments and Manitoba land transfer tax.
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A pre-approval before you offer
What a lender may lend, with a rate usually held for 60 to 130 days.
The straight answers
What buyers ask us first
Nine questions, short answers. If yours isn't here, ask it in the form and a licensed professional will answer it with your own numbers.
Am I signing a contract just by asking?
CENTUM®No. Talking to us doesn't commit you to anything. The only contract is the mortgage itself, signed with the lender you choose, and only when you buy.
Does it cost me anything to use CENTUM®?
CENTUM®For most home purchases, no. The lender pays the broker when your mortgage funds. If a fee ever applied to your situation, you'd be told in writing before you agree to anything.
How much do I need for a down payment?
CENTUM®At least 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of any part above that. On a $400,000 home that's $20,000. Homes of $1.5 million or more need 20% down. With less than 20%, you'll also need mortgage loan insurance.
How much house can I afford?
CENTUM®It depends on your income, debts and down payment, and on the stress test: lenders check you could afford the payment at your contract rate plus 2%, or 5.25%, whichever is higher. We'll also look at the payment you'd be comfortable with, which can be lower.
What will closing cost in Manitoba?
CENTUM®Plan for 1.5% to 4% of the price. That covers legal fees, title insurance, a home inspection and property tax adjustments, plus Manitoba land transfer tax, which is $5,650 on a $400,000 home. Manitoba doesn't charge sales tax on mortgage or title insurance.
Should I get pre-approved before I start looking?
CENTUM®It helps. A pre-approval tells you what a lender may lend and usually holds a rate for 60 to 130 days, depending on the lender. It isn't a guarantee: the lender still checks the home you choose before final approval.
Is there help for first-time buyers?
CENTUM®Yes. You can save up to $8,000 a year ($40,000 in total) in a First Home Savings Account and use it tax-free for your first home, take up to $60,000 from your RRSP under the Home Buyers' Plan, and claim the $10,000 home buyers' amount on your tax return. Manitoba's land transfer tax page lists no first-time buyer exemption.
I'm new to Canada. Can I still buy?
CENTUM®Yes. Permanent residents can buy with as little as 5% down using insured mortgages. If your Canadian credit history is limited, an insurer may consider an international credit report or a reference letter from your bank back home. Lenders' rules differ, which is why it helps to compare more than one.
What if I'm not ready to buy yet?
CENTUM®Then we'll tell you, and show you what to work on first, like your down payment or your credit. There's nothing to cancel, and you can come back when you're ready.
More questions
First time with a broker?
Most of it works just like your bank.
A broker can sound like an extra step. In practice, the mortgage, the lawyer and the payments stay as you'd expect. What changes is who's looking out for you.
What stays the same
- Your mortgage still comes from a bank or lender
- Your lawyer still handles the purchase paperwork
- You still make your payments to the lender
What changes
- One person compares over 50 lenders for you, banks included
- They work for you, not the lender
- If one lender says no, they can try another
36%
of Canadian mortgage holders say someone else, like a mortgage broker, shopped lenders for them.Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, 2026
Have us shop for you
Let's talk it through together.
Tell us where you are with buying. A licensed professional replies the same business day with your down payment, your closing costs and the next step to a pre-approval.
“We were first time homebuyers and knew nothing about the process. … Vittorio took the time to explain everything from the beginning to the end.”