Home Trust Mortgages, Explained
Home Trust is one of Canada’s best-known alternative lenders — the go-to for self-employed borrowers, newcomers to Canada, and anyone rebuilding credit after a rough patch. It isn’t a big bank, and it doesn’t need to be: its Classic, Accelerator and Equityline Visa products are built for files the banks turn away. Here’s how they work, and how we get you the right one.
When Home Trust is the right fit
Home Trust exists for the borrowers a bank’s rigid rules can’t accommodate — not because the file is weak, but because it doesn’t fit a standard box. We typically look at Home Trust when a client is:
- Self-employed with income that’s hard to prove using T4s or a Notice of Assessment alone.
- New to Canada and still building a Canadian credit history or employment record.
- Rebuilding credit after a bruised credit score, a past bankruptcy or consumer proposal, or missed payments.
- Looking to tap home equity through a flexible line, like the Equityline Visa, rather than a traditional refinance.
If a bank has said no, or your income and credit don’t fit a standard application, Home Trust is often exactly the kind of lender we bring into the conversation.
Who is Home Trust?
Home Trust Company was established in 1987 and has spent decades as one of Canada’s leading alternative mortgage lenders — financing borrowers whose income, credit or employment history doesn’t fit conventional bank criteria. In 2023, Home Trust became part of Smith Financial. It’s a broker-channel lender, which means the most reliable way to reach it is through a mortgage broker who knows how to package an alternative-lending file.
Home Trust’s mortgage line-up
| Product | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | Near-prime alternative mortgage financing | Self-employed, newcomer and credit-challenged borrowers |
| Accelerator | Insured prime mortgage financing | Stronger-credit borrowers who still want Home Trust’s approach |
| Equityline Visa | A home-equity line of credit that works as a Visa card | Homeowners who want flexible, ongoing access to their equity |
What is the Home Trust Equityline Visa?
The Equityline Visa is a home-equity line of credit registered against your home, packaged as a Visa card. Instead of applying for a new loan every time you need funds, you draw against your available equity the same way you’d use a credit card — while the line itself is secured by your home. It’s a flexible way to keep equity on standby for renovations, opportunities or unexpected expenses, without going through a full refinance each time.
How a Calgary mortgage broker helps with Home Trust
Alternative lending is where a broker earns their keep. Coming through us means:
- We know how Home Trust underwrites self-employed, newcomer and credit-rebuild files — and package your application to fit.
- We match you to Classic, Accelerator or the Equityline Visa based on what your file actually needs.
- We put Home Trust head-to-head with 30+ other lenders, including other alternative lenders, so you’re not settling for the first “yes.”
- It’s free, with no credit hit to start and no obligation.
Mortgage Application
Get Home Trust’s best fit — and the alternatives — in one place
- 2-minute form
- No credit check to start
- Bank-level encryption
- No obligation
Frequently asked questions
What is Home Trust known for?
What’s the difference between Home Trust’s Classic and Accelerator programs?
What is the Home Trust Equityline Visa?
Is Home Trust part of a bigger company?
Can I get a Home Trust mortgage through a broker?
Think Home Trust might be your fit? Let’s find out
We’ll match your file to Home Trust’s Classic, Accelerator or Equityline Visa programs — and show you how it stacks up against every other lender who might say yes. Apply online in about two minutes, or book a no-pressure discovery call.
Free · No credit check to start · No obligationThis article is general information, not financial, mortgage or legal advice. Lender products, rates, features and qualification criteria vary, are subject to change and depend on lender approval. Home Trust is not affiliated with Mortgages for Less and no endorsement is implied. Please speak with a licensed mortgage professional about your specific circumstances. Mortgages for Less with INDI Mortgage.