Who Is Home Trust?
Home Trust Company is a federally regulated Canadian trust company and a CDIC (Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation) member, operating as a subsidiary of Home Capital Group (TSX: HCG). Home Trust entered the reverse mortgage market in October 2025, making it the newest lender in the space.
Home Trust is best known in Canada for alternative mortgage lending — helping borrowers who don't fit conventional bank criteria. Their EquityAccess reverse mortgage brings that same philosophy: a federally regulated, consumer-protected product that is broker-exclusive and competitively priced with a $995 setup fee, tied with Equitable Bank for the lowest setup fee in Canada.
The 3 EquityAccess Products
Home Trust offers three reverse mortgage tiers under the EquityAccess brand, each targeting different equity needs and borrower profiles.
1. EquityAccess
The standard entry-level product. Available to borrowers aged 55+ with a home worth at least $250,000. The maximum LTV is up to 40%, and advances are single lump-sum only. The 5-year fixed rate ranges from 6.44% to 6.68%.
A unique feature of EquityAccess is the optional monthly interest payment via pre-authorized debit (PAD). If you choose to pay the monthly interest, your balance does not grow — giving you the no-payment flexibility of a reverse mortgage when you need it, while allowing you to manage interest accumulation if your cash flow allows.
2. EquityAccess+
The mid-tier product for borrowers who need access to more equity. It offers a higher maximum LTV of up to 55%, a minimum home value of $300,000, and supports multiple advance options including lump sum plus scheduled advances (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual). The 5-year fixed rate ranges from 6.54% to 6.79%.
EquityAccess+ is comparable in structure to Equitable Bank's standard Flex product and CHIP's flagship offering — it provides the combination of lump-sum and scheduled advances that most borrowers need for flexible retirement cash flow.
3. EquityAccess Boost
Boost is Home Trust's highest-LTV tier, requiring a minimum age of 70 and offering up to 59% LTV — the highest available in the Canadian reverse mortgage market, tied with Equitable Bank's Flex PLUS for older borrowers. It requires a minimum home value of $300,000 and supports lump-sum plus scheduled advances. The 5-year fixed rate ranges from 7.69% to 7.97%.
Boost is designed for borrowers who need to access the maximum possible equity — for example, to pay off a large remaining mortgage, consolidate significant debt, or fund a major life transition. The higher rate reflects the additional risk associated with the higher LTV.
Rates and Fees
| Product | 5-Year Fixed | Min Home Value | Max LTV | Advance Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EquityAccess | 6.44%–6.68% | $250,000 | Up to 40% | Single lump-sum advance only |
| EquityAccess+ | 6.54%–6.79% | $300,000 | Up to 55% | Lump sum + scheduled advances (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual) |
| EquityAccess Boost | 7.69%–7.97% | $300,000 | Up to 59% | Lump sum + scheduled advances |
Setup fee: $995 — tied with Equitable Bank for the lowest in Canada. CHIP charges $1,795–$2,995 and Bloom charges approximately $2,300. There is also a $0 renewal fee — unlike CHIP, which charges at each 5-year renewal, Home Trust does not charge a renewal fee.
Borrowers must still obtain Independent Legal Advice (ILA), which typically costs $300–$700 and is a legal requirement for all Canadian reverse mortgages.
Provincial Availability
Home Trust's EquityAccess is available in four provinces:
The inclusion of Nova Scotia is notable — it makes Home Trust the only broker-exclusive alternative to CHIP in that province. Equitable Bank, Bloom Finance, and Fraction are not available in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia homeowners who want to access a broker-exclusive product with a $995 setup fee now have a second option alongside CHIP.
Federally Regulated and CDIC Member
Home Trust Company is federally regulated by OSFI (the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions) and is a member of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). This is the same regulatory framework as HomeEquity Bank (CHIP) and Equitable Bank, providing borrowers with the same institutional protections.
Being CDIC-insured means Home Trust's deposit-taking activities are covered by federal deposit insurance, which signals strong financial oversight and stability. For reverse mortgage borrowers, the most important implication is the regulatory requirement to provide accurate loan terms, transparent disclosures, and the no-negative-equity guarantee.
Optional PAD (Pre-Authorized Debit) for Monthly Interest
One of Home Trust's differentiating features is the optional monthly interest payment via pre-authorized debit. With most reverse mortgages, interest compounds on the outstanding balance and is only repaid when the loan is discharged (when you sell, move, or pass away).
Home Trust's PAD option lets borrowers set up automatic monthly interest payments — keeping the balance flat. This is particularly useful for borrowers who:
- Have sufficient cash flow to cover monthly interest but want the flexibility to stop payments if their situation changes
- Want to preserve more equity for their heirs
- Are concerned about the long-term compounding effect of interest on a large balance
This is optional, not required. If you stop making PAD payments at any time, the reverse mortgage continues as normal — interest compounds on the balance until the loan is repaid.
No-Negative-Equity Guarantee
Like all regulated Canadian reverse mortgage lenders, Home Trust provides a no-negative-equity guarantee. You (or your estate) will never owe more than the fair market value of your home at the time of sale, provided you have met your loan obligations — maintaining the property, paying property taxes, and keeping insurance current.
Who Is Home Trust Best For?
Home Trust's EquityAccess is the right choice for borrowers who:
- Live in Nova Scotia — Home Trust is the only broker-exclusive reverse mortgage lender in NS; CHIP is the only other option there
- Want the lowest setup fee — $995 tied with Equitable Bank, significantly lower than CHIP or Bloom
- Want $0 renewal fees — Home Trust charges no renewal fee at the end of each 5-year term
- Want optional monthly interest payments — the PAD feature is unique among Canadian reverse mortgage lenders at this fee level
- Need the highest LTV (age 70+) — EquityAccess Boost offers up to 59% for borrowers 70 and older, tied with Equitable's Flex PLUS for the market maximum
- Value federally regulated, CDIC-member security — same oversight as HomeEquity Bank and Equitable Bank
Use our free calculator to estimate how much you could access through Home Trust. See our application guide for the full process from inquiry to funding. Reverse mortgage proceeds are tax-free and do not affect OAS, GIS, or CPP. Want to understand the impact on your heirs? See the inheritance impact guide or our estate impact projections.
How Home Trust Compares
Home Trust's entry-level rate (6.44%) ties Equitable Bank's Flex Lite for the lowest in Canada. Its setup fee ($995) also ties Equitable Bank. Where Home Trust differs is in its Nova Scotia availability (Equitable Bank does not serve NS) and the optional PAD payment feature.
CHIP remains the only lender available in all 10 provinces, and the only one that accepts rural properties with no geographic restriction. Bloom offers the lifetime fixed-rate product and Prepaid Mastercard. Home Trust slots in as a competitive, federally regulated alternative for borrowers in its four provinces — particularly Nova Scotia borrowers who previously had only CHIP as an option.
See our full side-by-side comparison, take the lender quiz to find your best match, or review alternatives to a reverse mortgage before deciding.