Current discounted RBC mortgage rates
| Term | Rate | APR |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year (closed), fixed | 5.94% | 6.07% |
| 2-year (closed), fixed | 5.54% | 5.60% |
| 3-year (closed), fixed | 4.89% | 4.93% |
| 4-year (closed), fixed | 4.84% | 4.87% |
| 5-year (closed), fixed | 4.89% | 4.92% |
| 7-year (closed), fixed | 5.50% | 5.52% |
| 5-year (closed), variable | 4.950% | 4.98% |
This table is updated daily on weekdays using data available on the Royal Bank of Canada’s website.
Current posted RBC mortgage rates
| Term | Rate | APR |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year (closed), fixed | 6.99% | 7.12% |
| 2-year (closed), fixed | 6.59% | 6.65% |
| 3-year (closed), fixed | 6.40% | 6.44% |
| 4-year (closed), fixed | 6.24% | 6.27% |
| 5-year (closed), fixed | 6.39% | 6.42% |
| 7-year (closed), fixed | 6.65% | 6.67% |
| 5-year (closed), variable | 5.45% | 5.48% |
This table is updated daily on weekdays using data available on the Royal Bank of Canada’s website.
RBC prime rate
RBC’s prime rate was lowered to 5.45% on December 12, 2024.
RBC’s prime rate is the basis for its variable-rate lending products, like mortgages, credit cards and lines of credit. When the Bank of Canada adjusts its overnight rate, RBC’s prime rate increases or decrease by the same amount, affecting the cost of borrowing for these products.
Mortgage rates at RBC’s competitors
Click on a bank’s name to see its full range of posted and discounted mortgage rates.
Rates updated: September 30, 2024
Bank |
3-Yr Fixed Rate |
5-Yr Fixed Rate |
5-Yr Variable Rate (Closed) |
5-Yr Variable Rate (Open) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.54% | 6.49% | 6.45% | 8.15% | |
| 6.99% | 6.84% | 6.45% | 9.75% | |
| 6.54% | 6.44% | 6.45% | N/A | |
| 6.50% | 6.39% | 6.45% | 9.75% | |
| 6.54% | 6.49% | 6.90% | 9.65% | |
| 6.94% | 6.79% | 6.60% | 7.60% |
Posted rates for closed mortgages with amortization under 25 years. Data source: Canada's major banks
RBC mortgages: Things to consider
RBC mortgage products
- Fixed-rate mortgages.
- Variable-rate mortgages.
- RBC Homeline Plan, which combines a mortgage and a line of credit.
- Home equity lines of credit.
- Home renovation loans.
- Mortgages for second homes and investment properties.
- Mortgage refinances
- Mortgage renewals.
Posted vs. special RBC mortgage rates
Posted mortgage rates
Posted rates are the rates RBC makes available publicly. These tend to be the bank’s highest rates because they haven’t been discounted. Think of RBC’s posted rates as you would a car dealership’s sticker prices: They’re a fine starting point for a negotiation, but you’d never want to pay them.
Special mortgage rates
RBC’s special rates are the bank’s posted rates that have already been discounted. These might be limited-time offers or the rates a bank offers its mortgage broker partners.
Even if you’re offered a special mortgage rate at RBC, don’t be afraid to try and negotiate a lower one.
RBC special mortgage offers
- New mortgages: Receive a cash bonus of up to $3,500 and 55,000 Avion points if you get an eligible mortgage by November 30, 2024. Eligible mortgages include closed fixed-rate terms of three to five years and five year variable closed mortgages with principals of at least $100,000.
- Mortgage switches: Switch your mortgage to RBC by November 30, 2024 and receive the same benefits listed above, plus a fee rebate worth up to $1,100.
Other terms and conditions may apply. Be sure you understand the requirements of any special offer before signing a contract.
Fixed vs. variable RBC mortgage rates
Fixed mortgage rates
With a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate will remain the same for the duration of your mortgage term, no matter how much RBC might increase its mortgage rates.
Fixed rates offer stability and predictability, but they can cost you plenty in prepayment penalties.
Like most major banks in Canada, RBC offers a much larger selection of fixed mortgage rates than it does variable mortgage rates. RBC’s fixed rates range from one to 10 years.
Variable mortgage rates
If you opt for a variable rate on your RBC mortgage, the rate could rise or fall many times during your term. When it rises, more of your monthly mortgage payment will go toward interest; when it falls, more will go toward the principal.
Getting a variable-rate mortgage from RBC allows you to switch to a fixed rate mid-term without incurring any penalties. You can also break your mortgage contract to prepay your mortgage and only be charged three-months interest.
Open vs. closed RBC mortgages
Open mortgages
RBC offers a small number of open mortgages, which allow you to increase your mortgage payments or even pay your mortgage in full at any time without penalty.
RBC’s open mortgages are available as one-year fixed-rate or five-year variable-rate options.
Closed mortgages
A closed mortgage imposes annual limits on how much you can prepay your mortgage, and may impose other restrictions on the changes you can make to it mid-term.
Most of RBC’s mortgage products are closed.
The difference?
Choosing between open and closed mortgages is often a matter of cost. Open mortgages tend to come with much higher interest rates.
At the time of this writing, RBC’s five-year variable rate offer on a closed mortgage was 5.88%. For an open mortgage, it was 9.78%.
Convertible mortgages
If you’re unsure how long a mortgage term you should choose, RBC offers a six-month convertible mortgage product that allows you to extend your term at any time.
Convertible mortgages tend to offer lower rates than open mortgages.
Interest rate vs. APR
When investigating RBC mortgage rates or comparing them to the rates of other lenders, it’s best to use the annual percentage rate (APR) provided rather than the interest rate itself.
APR includes any other fees that might be added to the cost of your mortgage, and gives you a more accurate figure with which to calculate your potential mortgage costs.
Mortgage term lengths at RBC
- Between one and 10 years for its fixed-rate mortgages.
- Three and five years for its variable rate mortgages.
- Six months for its convertible mortgages.
Prepayment privileges at RBC
RBC offers a few prepayment options on its closed mortgages. You can prepay up to 10% of your original mortgage principal once a year. You can also take advantage of RBC’s Double Up feature, which allows you to increase your mortgage payment by up to 100% on any payment date.
How to get the best RBC mortgage rate
As Canada’s largest federally regulated A-lender, RBC follows the country’s strict lending guidelines. That means being offered the best mortgage rates at RBC might require:
- Raising your credit score. RBC considers credit scores between 660 and 724 to be “good”, so your credit score will have to be in this range or higher before you’re offered an optimal mortgage rate
- Making a larger down payment. Canada’s minimum down payment guidelines require you to have at least five percent of a home’s sale price at hand to qualify for a mortgage at RBC. But you may have to put far more than that down for more expensive properties, or if the mortgage stress test reduces how much you can borrow.
- Paying down your debt. If you’re taking out an insured mortgage at RBC, your gross debt service ratio must be lower than 39%, and your total debt service ratio must be below 44%. Staying well below these limits can help you score a lower mortgage rate.
- Shopping around. RBC may not offer you the best mortgage rate. Take a look at the rates other lenders and mortgage brokers are offering.
- Negotiating: Never be afraid to ask your RBC mortgage advisor if they can improve on the rate they’ve offered you.
How to apply for a mortgage with RBC
You can apply for a mortgage pre-qualification and pre-approval on RBC’s website. Both forms take just a few minutes and don’t require you to dig up any supporting documentation.
If you’d prefer, you can request an RBC agent to walk you through these processes. If you decide to formally apply for a mortgage with RBC, you’ll learn about how to do that directly rom them; there’s no publicly accessible application form online.
Scroll to the bottom of RBC’s mortgage home page, and you’ll find quick links to start the online pre-approval and pre-qualification forms.
From here, you can also contact an RBC mortgage specialist in your area if you’d prefer assistance with these tasks, or if you’d like to get more information.
Pre-qualificaiton is a quick way to estimate how large a loan you may be approved for. It’s less comprehensive than getting pre-approved. You’ll want to get pre-approved before you start putting offers on homes.
Filling out the pre-qualification form is a simple process. After providing your contact information, you’ll be asked to give RBC permission to access your credit score. Doing this won’t affect your credit score.
You’ll be prompted to enter a potential home value as well as the amount of money you have saved up for a down payment. If you haven’t made an offer on a home yet, you won’t know what to enter for “Purchase Price”. That’s okay. You don’t have to fill out that field to continue.
It’s a good idea to enter your total down payment savings into the “Proposed Down Payment” space, though. It’s not necessary, but it’s useful information for your RBC mortgage specialist to have.
You’ll then choose a nearby mortgage specialist to help you with the rest of your pre-approval.
Click on the card icon next to each name to learn a little bit more about each specialist. RBC provides a modest amount of information about nearby agents, including the languages they speak and their areas of specialization, such as investment properties or first-time home buyers.
Who you choose to work with shouldn’t be a make-or-break decision — they’ll all be offering the same products and using the same qualification guidelines.
Frequently asked questions about RBC mortgage rates
RBC’s prime rate is currently 5.45%. This rate determines the interest the bank charges on variable-rate mortgages, lines of credit and certain credit cards.
You can — and should — negotiate your mortgage rate at RBC. When you first apply for a mortgage, a lender may not offer you the lowest rate possible, so it’s always advisable to ask for a lower one. Even if you’re only able to reduce the cost of your mortgage by a little, the money you save can be put toward a better use.
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