Recourse Loan
Understand recourse loans in Canadian real estate — what they are, how they work, and their impact on borrower liability.

August 08, 2025
What is a Recourse Loan?
A recourse loan is a type of loan where the lender can pursue the borrower’s personal assets, beyond the collateral, in the event of default.
Why Recourse Loans Matter in Real Estate
In Canadian real estate financing, recourse loans increase lender security but expose borrowers to greater personal liability.
Key points:
- Lender can claim collateral property and other assets
- Common for residential mortgages and small commercial loans
- Typically has lower interest rates than non-recourse loans
Understanding recourse loans helps borrowers evaluate risk and negotiate terms.
Example of a Recourse Loan in Action
The homeowner’s mortgage was a recourse loan, meaning the lender could pursue other assets if the property was sold for less than the outstanding debt.
Key Takeaways
- Allows lender to pursue borrower’s assets beyond collateral
- Common for most residential mortgages
- Increases borrower’s personal liability
- May offer lower interest rates
- Important factor in borrower risk management

A rendering of the EverHome project. (The Sher Corporation)

























September residential sales, not seasonally adjusted; the annual comparison uses CREA’s revised figures. Chart:
Annual changes in the unadjusted national MLS® HPI and average sale price. The average is affected by the mix of transactions. Chart:
Seasonally adjusted residential months of inventory by province. Local property types can differ substantially. Chart:
Ontario and B.C. are the two provinces with forecast annual average-price declines in 2026. Chart:
Annual average transaction prices in Canadian dollars. Forecast values are not December price targets. Chart:
Five-year changes in seasonally adjusted composite MLS® HPI benchmarks, September 2021 to September 2026. Chart: 
The original proposal (left) and current proposal (right) for 7115 Yonge Street and 8-14 Grandview Avenue in Markam. (Arcadis)