Empire Lending mortgage — a broker's perspective
Private mortgage lender focused on residential 2nd and 3rd mortgages across the GTA and Southern Ontario. Equity-based underwriting with same-week funding on clean files.
Who is Empire Lending?
Private mortgage lender focused on residential 2nd and 3rd mortgages across the GTA and Southern Ontario. Equity-based underwriting with same-week funding on clean files.
Empire Lending sits within the private lenders tier of Canada's mortgage market. Individual lenders + smaller MICs. Equity-based, fast funding, used as 6-18 month bridges. All fees disclosed in writing.
From thousands of funded files across 99+ Canadian lenders, our brokerage has placed thousands of mortgages with Empire Lending and we know their underwriting appetite intimately — what they say yes to, what they push back on, and what file structure gets a clean approval the first time. Empire Lending is institutional private capital with proper compliance and transparency — used as a bridge while we map your file's exit to A or alt-A.
What we send to Empire Lending.
From thousands of funded files across 99+ Canadian lenders, here’s what we know about Empire Lending’s preferences.
Empire Lending rate context — May 13, 2026
We can't publish lender-specific rates by name (lender confidentiality + daily-changing rate sheets), but here’s the live market context for private lenders pricing today. Your actual Empire Lending rate depends on file strength, term, insurance status, and product family.
Empire Lending funds these mortgage types
As a broker we access Empire Lending’s full broker-channel product menu. Explore the relevant product page for your file.
How we work with Empire Lending
We’re not employees of Empire Lending. We’re an independent FSRA-licensed brokerage that submits files to Empire Lending on your behalf when they’re the best fit — and to a different lender when they’re not.
5-minute call to understand your file — income, credit, down payment, property, timeline. No bureau pull to start.
We benchmark your file against 99+ lenders' appetite, not just Empire Lending. If they're the best fit, we go there. If not, we go elsewhere.
Full document package to Empire Lending's broker desk — structured the way their underwriters want to see it for clean first-time approval.
Conditional approval → conditions cleared → lawyer instruction → funding. We project-manage every milestone end-to-end.
Is Empire Lending a good fit for your file?
Honest take from thousands of funded files. We send the right file to the right lender — not the loudest one.
Strong fit for
- ✓Short-term bridge (6-18 months) while we map an A or alt-A exit
- ✓CRA debt / writ / lien that must be paid before a bank will fund
- ✓Power-of-sale rescues with equity but no income proof
- ✓Equity take-out where banks decline due to credit or income
Probably not the right fit if
- !Borrowers without a clear exit plan to A or alt-A
- !Files where the equity cushion is thin (under 25% home equity)
- !Long-term holds — private is bridge debt, not a 5-year solution
Not sure where your file fits? Start a free pre-qualification and we’ll diagnose your fit across 99+ lenders — without a bureau pull to begin.
Other private lenders we shop alongside Empire Lending
Same tier, often comparable rates. We benchmark Empire Lending against these every time.
Empire Lending mortgage broker — major Canadian cities
We place Empire Lending files across Canada. Tap your city for local market context and start a pre-qualification with your file in mind.
Don’t see your city? Browse all Canadian markets — we lend nationally.
Going direct to Empire Lending vs. through us
Same lender, different access points. Here’s what changes when you go through a broker.
| Aspect | Direct with Empire Lending | Through Mortgage Squad Advisors |
|---|---|---|
| Rate sheet | Broker-channel only — no direct retail access | Direct broker-channel access — our day-one cost |
| Lenders shopped | Just Empire Lending | 99+ lenders incl. Empire Lending |
| If declined | Application ends; reapply elsewhere | Re-route to next-best lender same day |
| Cost to borrower | $0 — bank pays its own staff | Disclosed up front (private/alt files only) |
| Underwriting strategy | Empire Lending's lens only | We structure your file to Empire Lending's preferences before submission |
| Renewal benchmarking | Empire Lending sends a single offer; you accept or counter | We benchmark across 99+ lenders 120 days before renewal |
Same Empire Lending loan documents. Different shopping power. Start a pre-qualification to see what your file looks like across 99+ lenders.
What are Empire Lending's current mortgage rates in Canada?
How do I qualify for a mortgage with Empire Lending?
Is Empire Lending a good mortgage lender?
Can I switch to Empire Lending at renewal?
Does Empire Lending work with self-employed borrowers?
How long does Empire Lending take to approve a mortgage?
What's the difference between Empire Lending branch rates and broker rates?
Does Empire Lending offer pre-approvals?
What prepayment privileges does Empire Lending offer?
What if Empire Lending declines my mortgage application?
Editorial commitment
This page is an editorial profile written from our brokerage’s perspective. We are not employed by Empire Lending and receive no payment from Empire Lending for this content. We compensate-disclose: on A-lender files the lender pays our brokerage compensation, and we earn the same regardless of which A-lender funds your file — so our recommendations are rate-agnostic. Rates and program details are reviewed quarterly; last reviewed May 13, 2026.
Pillar guides relevant to Empire Lending files
In-depth playbooks paired with the product types Empire Lending funds. Free, no email required.
Browse other lender tiers
Same broker. Different lender appetite.