Ontario · Mortgage Licensing
Verify a mortgage broker: red flags checklist.
FSRA licenses mortgage brokerages, brokers, agents and administrators. Tick what applies to the person you are dealing with. The result rule is this page's own, built from warning signs FSRA names.
Short answer: search FSRA's public mortgage registry first. If they are not listed, or they ask you to send a deposit to them personally, stop and contact FSRA before paying anything.
Tick what applies
Your result
Tick anything that applies; the result updates as you go.
Why the licence matters
FSRA says that if you obtain a mortgage through individuals or companies not licensed by FSRA, you are not protected under the Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act, 2006. It urges you to check its public registry, and if you were referred by a realtor, to check the broker is licensed yourself.
Also check enforcement
FSRA suggests asking whether a firm has faced enforcement, since a licence suspension or an administrative monetary penalty may point to compliance problems. FSRA also says mortgages must be in writing; do not treat funding as secured until you have an official document and have met all conditions.
Sources
- FSRA: Mortgage Brokering (retrieved October 2026)
- FSRA: Watch Out for Mortgage Fraud (retrieved October 2026)
- FSRA: Be careful, you could be conducting unlicensed activity (retrieved October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a mortgage broker in Ontario?
Use FSRA's public registry of licensed mortgage brokerages, brokers, agents and administrators, then check enforcement history. Open it from the FSRA Mortgage Brokering page linked above.
Is a broker referred by my realtor automatically licensed?
No. FSRA says to make sure the broker is licensed even when a realtor refers you.
Is this checklist an FSRA test?
No. The items come from FSRA guidance, but the stop, caution and note rule is this page's own simple logic.
What should I do if I think someone is unlicensed?
Stop sending money and contact FSRA. FSRA says it welcomes reports of anyone claiming to be a licensee who is not listed.
A guide, not a verification
TNAADO is not FSRA and this page does not check anyone's licence or imply official verification. Nothing you do here is sent anywhere. Use the official links to confirm status, and check FSRA's site for current details.