Optimum Mortgage, Explained

Q: Does Optimum lend on rental properties?

Yes, Optimum finances rental and investment properties, useful for landlords and investors whose files don't fit every prime lender's rules.

Optimum Mortgage is the alternative-lending arm of Canadian Western Bank — a common-sense option when your income, credit or property doesn’t fit a Big Bank’s box. Here’s who Optimum is for, how it works, and how a Calgary broker gets you in front of it (you can’t walk into a branch).

Quick answer: Optimum Mortgage is a broker-only alternative (near-prime) lender, backed by Canadian Western Bank. It’s built for self-employed borrowers, newcomers to Canada, people rebuilding credit, and rental/investment properties — files that a traditional bank might decline on paper even when the real-world numbers work. Optimum underwrites with common sense, using tools like bank-statement or stated-income programs where they fit. We place your file with Optimum when it’s the right tool for the job, and compare it against other alt and prime options first.

Alt lending

Alternative & near-prime specialist

CWB

Backed by Canadian Western Bank

Broker-only

Not available at a branch

Self-employed

Friendly to non-traditional income

Who Optimum is built for

Optimum isn’t trying to be everyone’s first mortgage. It’s built for borrowers whose story doesn’t fit neatly into a Big Bank’s standard checklist:

Self-employed borrowers — write-offs and variable income can make you look “risky” on paper even when cash flow is strong. Optimum has room to look at the real picture.
Newcomers to Canada — thin or no Canadian credit history shouldn’t be a dead end. Optimum considers newcomer files that traditional lenders often decline.
Credit rebuild — past bruises (a consumer proposal, missed payments, a rough patch) don’t have to keep you out of the market forever.
Rental and investment properties — Optimum lends on rentals where some prime lenders are more restrictive.

Who is Optimum Mortgage?

Optimum Mortgage is the alternative-mortgage division of Canadian Western Bank (CWB) — reached only through the broker channel, not a branch. That combination matters: you get the flexible, common-sense underwriting of an alternative lender, backed by a Canadian bank rather than a private or unregulated source.

Optimum’s mortgage line-up

The kinds of deals we place with Optimum

Program	What it is	Best for
Alternative / near-prime mortgage	Common-sense underwriting outside standard bank guidelines	Strong real-world financials that don’t fit a rigid checklist
Self-employed / stated-income style programs	Assesses income using tools like bank statements rather than line 15000 alone	Business owners and contractors with write-off-heavy tax returns
Newcomer lending	Considers borrowers with limited or no Canadian credit history	New permanent residents and work-permit holders
Rental / investment property mortgages	Financing for non-owner-occupied properties	Landlords and investors growing a rental portfolio

Common-sense underwriting, in practice

The theme running through everything Optimum does is common-sense underwriting: instead of a single rigid formula, an alternative lender like Optimum weighs the whole picture — income sources, equity, credit trend and the story behind a rough patch — rather than auto-declining a file that doesn’t fit a standard box. It’s not a rubber stamp; it’s a different lens, and it’s exactly why alt lending exists alongside prime lending.

How a Calgary mortgage broker helps with Optimum

Optimum doesn’t take walk-ins — the only door in is a mortgage broker. Here’s what we bring:

We know which files fit Optimum’s alternative programs and which are better placed elsewhere first.
We package self-employed and newcomer income the way Optimum’s underwriters want to see it.
We compare Optimum against other alt lenders and, where possible, a path back to prime pricing over time.
It’s free, with no credit hit to start and no obligation.

Mortgage Application

See if Optimum — or a better fit — works for your file

2-minute form
No credit check to start
Bank-level encryption
No obligation

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Optimum Mortgage?

Optimum Mortgage is the alternative-mortgage division of Canadian Western Bank (CWB), a Canadian bank. It’s reached only through mortgage brokers, not a branch.

Who is Optimum Mortgage good for?

Self-employed borrowers, newcomers to Canada with limited credit history, people rebuilding credit after a rough patch, and buyers or investors financing rental properties.

Can I apply with Optimum directly?

No — Optimum is a broker-only lender. You can only access it through a licensed mortgage broker, which is where we come in.

Does Optimum lend on rental properties?

Yes, Optimum finances rental and investment properties, which makes it a useful option for landlords and investors whose files don’t fit every prime lender’s rules.

Is an alternative mortgage more expensive than a bank mortgage?

Alternative lenders typically price for the extra flexibility and risk they take on compared to a standard bank mortgage. We’ll show you the trade-off clearly and look at whether a path back to prime pricing makes sense down the road.

Doesn’t fit the standard checklist? Let’s find the right lender

We’ll tell you honestly whether Optimum’s alternative programs are the right fit — or whether another lender, prime or alt, serves you better. Apply online in about two minutes, or book a no-pressure discovery call.

Apply online Book a discovery call

Free · No credit check to start · No obligation

This 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. Optimum Mortgage and Canadian Western Bank are 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.