A second mortgage is also referred to as a “home equity loan.” Equity is the value of your home minus any amount you owe on it. For instance, if your home is valued at $300,000 and you have a mortgage for $200,000, your equity is $100,000. If you do not have equity in your home, you will not qualify for a second mortgage.
Second mortgages are frequently used for home improvements, funding major purchases such as a new car, and credit card debt consolidation. The terms of repayment are usually one to twenty years.
In Canada, your interest rate for a second mortgage will depend, in large part, on your credit score and your employment history.
Canadian second mortgage rates are not posted publicly. You must actually apply for a second mortgage to get a quote. Remember that completing an application does not in any way obligate you to accept the resulting offer.
In general, second mortgage rates in Canada are one to two percent higher than primary mortgage rates; however, they are still lower than the interest rates on credit cards and car loans. Interest rates may be fixed or variable. Accepting a loan with a variable interest rate is always a gamble. If interest rates go down, you will profit, but if they go up, you will end up paying more.
Before taking out a second mortgage, remember that failing to make monthly payments on the mortgage could cost you your house. You may want to speak to a financial advisor to be sure your budget will allow you to make the monthly payments.

