Maternity/Parental Leave, and Qualifying for a Mortgage

Jen & Cory • November 5, 2019

So your family is growing! Congratulations!

If you’ve thought now is the time to find a new property to accommodate your growing family, but you’re unsure how your maternity or parental leave will impact your ability to get a mortgage, you’ve come to the right place!

Here’s the skinny. It won’t be a problem to qualify your income on a mortgage application, as long as you have documentation proving that you have a guaranteed position to return to.

While taking parental/maternity leave, if you walk into your local bank to get qualified, there is a chance they will only allow you to use the income you are currently receiving to qualify for a mortgage (55% of your income up to $562/week). This means you will qualify for significantly less, as your income is a fraction of what it is when you’re working.

The advantage of working with a mortgage broker is that you have a choice between mortgage products and institutions. This includes lenders who will use 100% of your return to work income. To do this, you need an employment letter from your employer that states the following:

  • Your employer’s name
  • Your position
  • Your initial start date
  • Your return to work date
  • Your salary

From there, you might also need to provide a history of income, but that is typical to mortgage financing.

What you decide to do; whether you return to work after your parental/maternity leave or not, is entirely up to you. However, for a lender to feel confident in your ability to cover your mortgage payments while qualifying, you will need to have a position waiting for you once your leave is over, and the letter to prove it.

If you have any questions about this or anything else mortgage qualification related, please don’t hesitate to contact us anytime!

Jen & Cory
YOUR MORTGAGE EXPERTS

CONTACT US
Recent Posts

Bank of Canada Holds Rate at 2.25% — June 10, 2026

By Jen & Cory • June 10, 2026
The Bank of Canada announced today that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 2.25%, with the Bank Rate at 2.5% and the deposit rate at 2.20%. For Canadian homeowners, buyers, and anyone with a mortgage on the horizon — here's what you need to know.

What Online Mortgage Calculators Can—and Can’t—Tell You

By Jen & Cory • June 3, 2026
What Online Mortgage Calculators Can—and Can’t—Tell You Online mortgage calculators are everywhere—and on the surface, they seem like a no-brainer. You plug in some numbers, and out pops what you can “afford.” Simple, right? Not quite. While the math itself is correct, the story behind those numbers is often misleading. Mortgage qualification isn’t just about numbers—it’s about context, risk, and lender policy. And that’s where calculators fall short. The Numbers Are Accurate—but the Picture Isn’t An online calculator can show you what a payment might look like at a given interest rate, or how making extra payments could reduce your amortization. That’s useful information! But when it comes to mortgage qualification , calculators don’t account for the many variables that lenders consider, such as: Your credit history and score Employment type (salary, self-employed, contract) Outstanding debts and monthly obligations Assets, savings, and down payment source The property type and location you’re buying Lenders evaluate all these factors through their internal risk models. That means two people entering the exact same numbers into a calculator could receive very different results when they actually apply for a mortgage. Why Online Calculators Can Mislead You When you see a “How much can I afford?” or “Mortgage Qualification” calculator online, it’s easy to treat the result as fact. But these tools don’t know your financial story—they only crunch the data you enter. A calculator can’t predict how a lender views your risk, how new mortgage rules apply to your file, or how things like spousal support, car loans, or variable income will impact approval. In short: calculators estimate payments, not qualification . Use Calculators the Right Way Don’t get us wrong—online calculators still have value. Use them to explore different “what-if” scenarios: How do payments change with different down payment amounts? How would a rate increase affect affordability? What if you added $100 a month to your payments? These tools are great for helping you understand your comfort zone. Just remember: they’re a starting point, not a green light. The Real First Step: Get a Pre-Approval If you’re serious about buying a home, skip the guesswork and get a mortgage pre-approval . It’s quick, free, and gives you real-world clarity on what you can afford. A pre-approval looks at your full financial picture—income, credit, debts, assets—and provides a framework for your purchase price, payment range, and rate options. It’s the only way to get a reliable answer to the question, “What can I really afford?” Final Thoughts Online calculators are convenient, but they can’t replace expert advice. Think of them as a starting point, not a solution. A professional mortgage broker can interpret the numbers, navigate lender policies, and tailor your financing strategy to your actual situation. If you’d like help understanding your true buying power—or want to get pre-approved with confidence— reach out anytime . I’d be happy to walk you through your options and help you make sense of the numbers.