First Mortgage A mortgage registered before all others on title. Gives the lender a primary lien/charge against your house and property that has precedence over all other mortgages. Priority is determined by the date and time registered, so a first mortgage was literally and legally registered \"first\". A new first mortgage can therefore only be registered as a \"first\" mortgage upon the discharge of an existing one if the holder of a second mortgage \"postpones\" (i.e., \"puts back in time\") to a time immediately following the registration of the new first mortgage.

This allows buyers to obtain up to 95% financing on properties up to a certain value. The loan must be insured against default by GE Capital Mortgage Insurance Corporation or CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation). This maximum home value will vary according to location (local Realtors should know the applicable limit) and eligibility can vary with personal circumstances.