April 19, 2026

The $10 Check That Could Save Your Mortgage Deal

By Shawn Selanders | Mortgage Broker | Since 1999

Every refinance and renewal file I work on, I pull the property title first. It costs about $10-20 and takes 5 minutes. And at least once a month, I find something the homeowner had no idea about.

Here is what I see most often.

Old Mortgages That Were Never Discharged

You paid it off 8 years ago. Your lawyer was supposed to file the discharge. They did not. It still shows as an active mortgage on your title. When your new lender pulls the title, they see two mortgages — and your deal stalls until the old one is formally removed. That can take weeks.

CRA Liens

Owe taxes? CRA can register a lien against your property — sometimes without you realizing it. Most lenders will not approve a new mortgage with an active government lien on the property.

Builder Liens

Had renovations done? If your contractor had a payment dispute with a subcontractor, a lien could have been filed against your property. You might not even know about it.

Condo Caveats

Behind on condo fees? Your condo corporation can register a caveat on your title. This shows up during a title search and raises red flags with lenders.

How to Check Your Own Title

The Government of Alberta makes this easy through SPIN2 — their online land titles system.

Step 1: Go to SPIN2 and create a free account (or use guest login).

Step 2: Search by your property address or legal description (found on your property tax notice).

Step 3: Order a Certificate of Title — costs $10-20.

Step 4: Review it — you should see your name, your current mortgage, and not much else.

Step 5: If you see something unexpected, deal with it now — before it delays your next mortgage.

Alberta note: As of early 2026, the Alberta Land Titles Office is processing documents received in late February 2026. There is a significant backlog. If you need something discharged from your title, start the process early.

I pull titles on every file because surprises at the last minute cost deals. But if you check yours first, we are already ahead.

I built a complete document checklist on my website — including title search instructions and checklists by income type.

See the Full Document Checklist →

Questions About Your Title?

Not sure how to read your title? Send it to Shawn — he reviews titles on every file.

Call Shawn — 403-703-6847