The accelerating mortgage renewal cycle in 2024-2025 marks a major turning point for homeowners and businesses in Quebec. According to the Bank of Canada, around one-third of fixed-rate mortgages are due for renewal each year between 2024 and 2026, with rates often much higher than in 2020-2021. For Quebec SMEs, this wave of renewals represents both a risk (a drop in their customers’ purchasing power, a potential rise in their own financing costs) and a series of opportunities: repositioning their products, optimizing their commercial financing, improving their customer relationship management and automating their processes thanks to digital and AI.

With more than 40% of Canadian households expected to renew by 2026, according to the Bank of Canada Bulletin, SME leaders in Quebec have every interest in adapting their strategy. In this context, integrating advanced digital tools – such as AI, chatbots and automation solutions – is becoming a key competitive advantage to better understand the evolution of demand, personalize the offer and support sales, even in an environment of higher rates.

1. A changing mortgage environment: pressure on households, challenges for SMEs

Between 2020 and 2022, many Quebec households took out mortgages at historically low rates, often below 2%. In 2024-2025, these same homeowners are renewing in an environment where 5-year fixed rates are more likely to hover around 4% to 6%, according to data published by CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation). For a significant proportion of the population, this means a significant increase in monthly payments.

At the Canadian level, several recent studies indicate that :

• Almost 45% of mortgages are due for renewal by the end of 2026, exposing a large number of households to payment shock.
• The Bank of Canada estimates that a typical household could see its payments increase by 20% to 40%, depending on the type of loan and the remaining term.
• A growing proportion of households already spend more than 25% of their gross income on housing, leaving less room for discretionary spending.

For Quebec SMEs, this means :

• A possible slowdown in consumption in certain sectors (retail, non-essential services, leisure).
• Increased customer focus on value, price and payment terms.
• A need for transparency, support and education, particularly for financial services companies, mortgage brokers, insurance companies and consultants.

However, this context is not only synonymous with constraints. It also opens up opportunities for SMEs that know how to position themselves as trusted partners: budget simulation tools, renegotiation services, tax optimization, refinancing solutions, but also products and services adapted to this new reality (subscriptions, loyalty programs, offers differentiated according to budget).

SMEs that anticipate these changes can rely on a solid online presence, effective digital communication channels and fine-tuned analysis of customer data. This is where digital transformation – including the creation of high-performance websites and the implementation ofartificial intelligence tools – becomes a major asset.

2. Sales opportunities: when mortgage renewal becomes a key moment in the customer journey

Mortgage renewal is not just a financial event; it’s also a powerful trigger for life decisions: moving house, renovations, budget reorganization, rental property investment, debt consolidation, purchasing equipment for a home-based business, and so on. For Quebec SMEs, these moments of transition are ideal entry points for offering targeted services.

In 2024, several trends stand out:

• An increase in demand for personalized advice and a stronger human relationship, especially in financial and professional services.
• Increased use of digital channels to compare offers, simulate scenarios and plan budgets.
• The development of thehome-based economy (telecommuting, home offices, functional renovations), which creates a need for specialized products, financing and services.

In concrete terms, several types of SMEs can take advantage of these trends:

• Mortgage brokers and regional financial institutions: offer payment simulators, educational content and automated virtual appointments.
• Renovation and construction companies: offer energy-efficient or functional renovation packages, put forward at the time of renewal or refinancing.
• Retail and e-commerce: adapt offers (financing, instalment payments, subscriptions) to post-renewal budget realities.
• B2B service providers (accountants, tax specialists, financial planners): create structured support paths around mortgage renewal.

To capture these opportunities, it’s essential to make your products and services easily accessible online. A well-designed online store or customer portal can turn a simple visitor into a loyal customer. Specialized e-commerce solutions such as those offered by Nuaweb enable you to create simple, clear buying paths that are aligned with customers’ ability to pay, notably through flexible payment options.

What’s more, the adoption ofmarketing automation and AI chatbots makes it possible to detect intent signals (rate searches, visits to mortgage-related pages, recurring questions) and trigger personalized information sequences at the right time. TheAI and chatbot solutionsdeveloped by Nuaweb help SMEs to offer just this level of service without exploding their operating costs.

3. Managing customer relationships in times of financial pressure: CRM, segmentation and AI

When interest rates rise and households revise their budgets, the quality of customer relations becomes a decisive differentiating factor. SMEs that know their customers well and are able to communicate in a targeted and empathetic way are better positioned to weather this tense phase.

Recent data show that :

• Consumers are more likely to switch financial, insurance or telecoms providers when faced with a budget shock.
• Companies that use CRM (Customer Relationship Management) increase loyalty by an average of 20% to 30%, according to various North American industry studies.

For Quebec SMEs, a well-configured CRM has become an essential tool for navigating this massive mortgage renewal context. In particular, it enables :

• Segment customers according to their financial profile, life cycle and needs (e.g. homeowners undergoing renewal, investors, young families).
• Schedule automatic reminders before estimated renewal dates, to initiate proactive communication.
• Centralize exchanges (e-mails, calls, web forms, chat) to offer fluid, personalized follow-up.
• Trigger targeted campaigns (newsletters, personalized offers, educational webinars) at key moments.

Solutions such as those described on Nuaweb’s CRM and sales management page make it possible to implement this type of strategy without excessive complexity, even for a small team. By integratingartificial intelligence, it becomes possible to go even further:

• Score for propensity to renew or change supplier.
• Recommendations for additional products or services based on actual customer behavior.
• Chatbots able to answer frequently asked questions 24/7 about rates, mortgages, payment options.

For an SME looking to capitalize on the 2024-2025 trends in mortgage renewal, investing in a CRM connected to its website, marketing campaigns and customer service channels is no longer an option: it’s a competitive lever. Automation makes it possible to maintain constant, relevant contact, without overloading internal teams, while increasing the chances of transforming a context of financial tension into an opportunity for customer loyalty.

4. Strategic preparation: digital transformation, websites and automation for Quebec SMEs

The 2024-2025 wave of mortgage renewals should not be approached solely as a macroeconomic constraint. For Quebec SMEs, it’s the ideal time to accelerate their digital transformation, review their positioning and modernize their sales and communications channels.

Here are a few concrete areas of preparation:

• 1. A clear, educational, conversion-oriented website
  Your site should clearly explain how your products or services meet the challenges of mortgage renewal: budget optimization, project financing, advice, simulation tools, etc. A modern structure, visible calls to action and educational content reassure visitors. If your site is aging or poorly adapted to mobile, it’s a good time to consider a redesign with a specialized partner like Nuaweb for website creation.
• 2. E-commerce and online offers
  For service companies and retailers alike, offering packages, subscriptions or advisory services that can be booked and paid for online can simplify the purchasing process for customers in a hurry and under budget constraints.E-commerce solutionsfor SMEs make it easy to add online appointment booking, fractional payment, or digital products (webinars, guides, coaching).
• 3. Automated communications
  Automated e-mail campaigns, triggered by visits to certain pages (e.g. rates, mortgages, budgets), can guide the prospect through an educational journey: from awareness to decision. Automation reduces repetitive manual tasks and ensures a constant presence, even with a small team.
• 4. Integrating AI and chatbots
  AI and chatbot solutions provide instant answers to frequently asked questions: “How does a renewal work?”, “What impact does this have on my budget?”, “What financing options do I have?”. As well as enhancing the customer experience, these tools collect valuable data on visitors’ intentions and concerns, subsequently feeding into CRM and marketing strategies.
• 5. Ongoing measurement and optimization
  In today’s fast-moving economic environment, it’s essential to track data: mortgage-related web traffic, conversion rates on your service pages, the performance of your renewal campaigns, and customer feedback. A data-driven culture helps you to quickly adjust your offer, messages and channels.

Quebec SMEs that combine a good understanding of mortgage trends with a solid digital strategy will be better placed to seize opportunities: attract customers actively seeking solutions, increase their average basket despite budget constraints, and build loyalty thanks to a personalized, proactive customer relationship.

Conclusion: transforming mortgage renewal into a growth driver for your SME

The period 2024-2025 promises to be a crucial one in Quebec, with rising interest rates and a wave of mortgage renewals affecting a large proportion of households. While this context exerts real pressure on purchasing power, it also creates a range ofopportunities for SMEs: new needs for advice, financing, products adapted to tighter budgets, and increased use of digital channels to compare and decide.

By investing in a high-performance website, a connected CRM, tailored e-commerce solutions andAI and automation tools, your company can position itself as a strategic partner for its customers at a key moment in their financial lives. This is an opportunity to rethink your offerings, improve your service and solidify your customer relationships.

If you’d like to analyze the impact of mortgage renewal trends on your sector, and build a digital strategy tailored to the realities of Quebec SMEs, the Nuaweb team can help: website creation, CRM, automation, e-commerce and customized AI.

Make an appointment now for a free consultation with Nuaweb and turn these market trends into real growth levers for your SME: contact us here.