Who Is Home Trust?
Home Trust Company is a federally regulated Canadian trust company and a subsidiary of Home Capital Group Inc. With decades of experience in the broader mortgage lending space, Home Trust is one of Canada's largest non-bank mortgage lenders, serving Canadians through a network of mortgage brokers and financial advisors.
In October 2025, Home Trust entered the reverse mortgage market with EquityAccess, making it the fourth dedicated reverse mortgage lender in Canada alongside HomeEquity Bank (CHIP), Equitable Bank, and Bloom Finance. As a CDIC member, Home Trust provides depositors with the same protections offered by Canada's major banks — a meaningful distinction in the reverse mortgage space where borrower confidence in the lender's stability matters.
Like Equitable Bank, Home Trust's reverse mortgage products are broker-exclusive. You cannot apply for EquityAccess directly through Home Trust — you must work with a licensed mortgage broker. This is a deliberate distribution strategy: it keeps costs lower and ensures borrowers receive independent advice as part of the process.
The EquityAccess Products
1. EquityAccess (Standard)
The standard EquityAccess product is available to homeowners aged 55 and older with a home valued at a minimum of $250,000. The maximum loan-to-value is up to 55%, consistent with industry norms. Borrowers can receive funds as a lump sum or a combination of lump sum and optional monthly interest payments via pre-authorized debit (PAD).
The optional monthly interest payment feature is worth highlighting. While all reverse mortgages allow you to make no payments at all, Home Trust makes it straightforward to set up automatic monthly interest payments if you want to prevent (or slow) the growth of your loan balance over time. This is particularly appealing to borrowers who have some monthly cash flow and want to preserve more equity for their estate.
2. EquityAccess Plus
EquityAccess Plus is the higher-LTV tier, offering loan-to-value ratios up to 59% for borrowers who need to access more of their home equity. The minimum home value is $300,000, and the product includes scheduled advance options in addition to lump-sum draws.
This tiered structure is similar to what CHIP offers with its standard and Max products, and what Equitable Bank offers with Flex and Flex PLUS. The higher LTV tier typically comes with a slightly higher rate, reflecting the increased risk to the lender. Speak with your broker to understand the specific rate differential between EquityAccess and EquityAccess Plus.
Rates and Fees
| Product | Rate | Max LTV | Advance Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| EquityAccess | 6.44%–6.68% | Up to 40% | Single lump-sum advance only |
| EquityAccess+ | 6.54%–6.79% | Up to 55% | Lump sum + scheduled advances (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual) |
| EquityAccess Boost | 7.69%–7.97% | Up to 59% | Lump sum + scheduled advances |
As the newest entrant in Canada's reverse mortgage market, Home Trust is competing on pricing and service levels to win broker relationships and market share. Because EquityAccess is broker-exclusive, specific rates are not publicly advertised — your broker will negotiate the rate on your behalf, and there may be room for competitive pricing, especially in the early stages of the product's life.
Setup fees have not been publicly disclosed by Home Trust. Your broker can provide the exact fee structure, which typically includes processing, appraisal, and Independent Legal Advice (ILA) costs. Ask your broker to compare the total cost of borrowing — including setup fees — across all four reverse mortgage lenders before making a decision.
Prepayment
Home Trust's EquityAccess includes prepayment privileges that allow borrowers to make optional monthly interest payments via pre-authorized debit. This is not a penalty — it is a feature that lets you actively manage your loan balance if you choose to.
However, if you want to repay the loan in full before the end of your term, prepayment penalties apply. Like CHIP and Equitable Bank, Home Trust structures its reverse mortgages with fixed terms (up to 5 years) that reset upon renewal. Exiting early within a term triggers a penalty.
The specific penalty schedule has not been publicly disclosed. Your broker can provide the exact penalty structure and compare it against CHIP's and Equitable Bank's terms. When evaluating penalties, ask your broker to calculate the actual dollar amount of penalties at different exit points — Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 — across all lenders you are considering.
Provincial Availability
Home Trust launched EquityAccess in Ontario in October 2025. British Columbia was added shortly after, and Alberta was added in early 2026. Home Trust has signalled plans for further national expansion.
- Ontario — available (launch province)
- British Columbia — available
- Alberta — available (added early 2026)
If you live in Ontario, BC, or Alberta, you now have four reverse mortgage lenders to compare: CHIP, Equitable Bank, Bloom Finance, and Home Trust. This is the most competitive reverse mortgage market in Canada, and having four lenders competing for your business is a significant advantage — particularly if you work with a broker who has access to all four.
No-Negative-Equity Guarantee
Like all Canadian reverse mortgage lenders, Home Trust EquityAccess includes a no-negative-equity guarantee. This means you will never owe more than the fair market value of your home at the time of sale, provided you have met the standard conditions: maintaining the property, paying property taxes, and keeping home insurance current.
This guarantee is a cornerstone of the reverse mortgage product in Canada and eliminates the risk that a market downturn could leave you or your estate owing more than the home is worth.
Who Is Home Trust Best For?
Home Trust EquityAccess is the right fit for borrowers who:
- Want the security of a federally regulated institution — Home Trust is a CDIC member, providing the same depositor protections as Canada's major banks. For borrowers who value institutional stability, this is a meaningful differentiator compared to a private lender.
- Are working with a broker seeking competitive pricing — As the newest entrant, Home Trust is actively competing for market share, which often translates to competitive rates and flexible terms for brokers who bring volume.
- Live in Ontario, BC, or Alberta and want to comparison shop all four lenders — Having four lenders to compare gives you the best chance of finding the most favourable rate and terms for your situation.
- Want optional monthly interest payments — The PAD feature lets you manage your balance growth without being locked into a mandatory payment schedule.
- Value a tiered product suite — With both EquityAccess (standard) and EquityAccess Plus (higher LTV), Home Trust offers flexibility depending on how much equity you need to access.
How Home Trust Compares
Canada now has four reverse mortgage lenders, each with a distinct positioning. CHIP (HomeEquity Bank) has the broadest provincial coverage — all 10 provinces — and the widest range of products, including bridge financing and income-stream products. Equitable Bank offers the lowest known rates in the market, starting at 6.44% for Flex Lite, and has the lowest setup fee at $995. Bloom Finance offers Canada's only lifetime fixed-rate reverse mortgage, eliminating renewal risk entirely.
Home Trust's advantage is the combination of competitive pressure from being a new entrant and the credibility of a federally regulated trust company. New lenders typically compete aggressively on pricing and service to gain market share — and in a broker-exclusive channel, this competition can directly benefit borrowers through better rates and more flexible terms.
The right lender depends on your priorities: broadest coverage and most product options (CHIP), lowest known rate (Equitable Bank), lifetime rate certainty (Bloom), or the competitive pricing and regulated-bank backing of a new entrant (Home Trust). See our full comparison or take the lender quiz to find your match.