How Canadian mortgage payments work
Canadian fixed-rate mortgages compound semi-annually, not in advance. That is a real difference from the monthly compounding common elsewhere, and it changes the payment slightly. The calculator converts your annual rate to an effective monthly rate on the semi-annual basis, then amortizes the balance over the years you choose, so the monthly figure reflects how Canadian fixed mortgages actually work.
Frequency, and why accelerated pays off faster
Paying more often does not save money on its own; what saves money is paying more in total. Regular biweekly and weekly schedules split the monthly payment so the annual total is unchanged. Accelerated biweekly takes half the monthly payment and charges it 26 times, and accelerated weekly takes a quarter charged 52 times. Both add about one extra monthly payment per year straight to the principal, which shortens the amortization and cuts total interest.
Plan around the whole cost of owning
The mortgage is one line in the cost of owning a home. Property taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance all add up, and the small repairs are the ones that are easy to forget until they are not. Keeping a record of your home, its appliances, warranties, and maintenance history is the cheapest insurance a homeowner has. That is what Habyn property records are built to keep, free for homeowners on the Home plan.