Joel DyckReal Broker SK Ltd.
Saskatoon · From the topic map

What should a struggling homeowner do?

A homeowner falling behind should first find out their real equity position, since that number, not the mortgage balance alone, decides whether selling, refinancing or a lender payment plan is realistic. CMHC's lending guidelines cap housing costs at roughly 39 percent of gross income, and a household over that is usually the one a lender flags first.

Contacting the lender early, before a payment is missed, opens options that disappear once an account goes into arrears, including a temporary payment deferral or a restructured amortization. Waiting until the situation is urgent narrows every option to the most expensive ones.

If selling turns out to be the right move, timing still matters. A rushed sale under pressure tends to accept the first offer rather than the best one, while a homeowner who gets an accurate valuation early keeps the choice of timeline instead of having it made for them.

Joel Dyck talks through the real numbers with no obligation, so the decision is based on your actual equity rather than a guess. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.

Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.

Still have a question?

Ask Joel directly. No form, no obligation, and a real answer even when the answer is that now is not the time to sell.