Behind on Your Mortgage, or Facing a Renewal You Can't Afford?

No. Checking your refinance, HELOC, or 2nd-mortgage options through Casavo's lender network is a soft pull — it does not affect your credit score. A hard inquiry only happens if you choose to accept a specific lender's offer and move forward.

Often yes. Casavo's network includes 30+ lenders — banks, credit unions, B-lenders, and private lenders — many of whom specifically work with bruised credit, recent consumer proposals, or bankruptcies discharged 2+ years ago. Banks decline roughly 4 in 10 renewals on damaged credit right now; B-lenders and private lenders exist precisely because of that gap.

If you have equity, a refinance, 2nd mortgage, or private loan can fund the full arrears, fees, and legal costs needed to cure the default within your province's cure window (35 days in Ontario, longer elsewhere). It doesn't stop the lender's clock by itself — you still need to act inside the window — but it's often the fastest way to find the cash to cure a default before the lender controls the timeline. Read the full mechanics in [Mortgage Arrears Options in Canada](/blog/mortgage-arrears-options-canada/).

Getting matched with lender options takes about 2 minutes. From there, typical closing time across Casavo's network is around 14 days — though it depends on your specific lender, documentation, and how much equity is involved. If you have a hard deadline (like a 35-day Ontario cure window), say so when you apply.

Refinancing only works if there's equity to borrow against. If your mortgage balance is close to or above your home's value, refinancing usually isn't the right tool — selling before power of sale, or a consumer proposal to free up cash flow on the unsecured side of your budget, are more likely to fit. See [Should You Sell Your House Before Power of Sale?](/blog/sell-house-before-power-of-sale-canada/) and [Mortgage Arrears Options](/blog/mortgage-arrears-options-canada/) to figure out which file you're in.

No. Comparing your options across Casavo's lender network is free, with no upfront fees and no obligation to proceed. You only commit when you choose to accept a specific lender's offer.