Moving This Summer? How Porting Your Mortgage Works

By Lyndsy Pahl, Licensed Mortgage Broker - Serving British Columbia & Alberta - July 2026

Summer is moving season. If you're selling your current home and buying a new one, there's a feature of your mortgage you may not have thought about - and in the right situation, it can save you real money. It's called porting, and it's one of those things most people don't learn about until a broker explains it.

What porting actually means

Porting lets you take your existing mortgage - including your current interest rate and terms - and carry it over to your new property, rather than breaking your mortgage and starting fresh. If you've got a rate you're happy with, porting lets you hang onto it instead of giving it up just because you're moving.

That can matter a lot. If your current rate is better than what's available today, breaking the mortgage could mean a prepayment penalty and a higher rate on the new place. Porting can sidestep both.

When porting is the smart move

Porting tends to make the most sense when:

• You have a favourable rate locked in that you'd rather not lose.
• You're still partway through your term, so breaking it would trigger a penalty.
• Your new home's price and your financing needs line up reasonably well with your current mortgage.

A few things to know before you count on it

Porting isn't automatic, and the details matter:

• You usually have to re-qualify. Even though you're keeping your rate, the lender will typically reassess your income and finances for the new property - so it's worth confirming you still qualify before you firm up an offer.
• If you're buying a more expensive home, you may need to borrow more. That extra amount is often added at current rates - a "blend" of your old rate and today's - which we can map out in advance.
• Timing windows can be tight. Most lenders give you a limited number of days between selling and buying to complete the port. If your closing dates don't line up perfectly, bridge financing can fill the gap.
• Not every mortgage is portable, and the rules vary by lender. This is exactly the kind of fine print I check for you.

Where bridge financing comes in

One of the most common moving headaches is buying your new home before your old one's sale closes - meaning you need the down payment before your equity is freed up. Bridge financing is a short-term solution that "bridges" that gap so you're not stuck. If your dates don't align, we'll build this into the plan so your move stays smooth.

Let's plan your move before you list

The best time to sort all of this out is before you list your current home or make an offer on a new one - not in the scramble afterward. Come to me early and I'll confirm whether your mortgage is portable, whether porting beats your other options, and how to handle the timing. I'll handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on the exciting part: your new home.

Planning a move this summer? Let's map out your mortgage first. I'm your advocate, and I work for you - not the banks. Let's talk mortgages.

☎ (604) 762-0762 | ✉ lyndsy@theplacetomortgage.com
Apply online: r.mtg-app.com/lyndsypahl | mortgagewithlyndsy.com

This article is general information for homeowners in British Columbia and Alberta as of July 2026 and isn't financial advice for your specific situation. Porting rules, qualification, and timing windows vary by lender - reach out and I'll confirm what applies to your mortgage.