nesto is a Montréal-based online mortgage company that started as a brokerage and now also originates, funds and services its own mortgages. Its pitch is a rate shown up front, a long rate hold and salaried advisors who aren’t paid by commission. This review covers how that model works, what nesto states about its rate hold, advisors and credit minimums, and where it fits among the other platforms in our mortgage lenders and brokers hub.
nesto at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | Online mortgage lender and brokerage |
| Head office | Montréal, Quebec |
| Rate hold | Up to 150 days on select offers |
| How advisors are paid | Salaried, no commission; a possible quarterly bonus is not tied to the rate or product chosen |
| Minimum credit score | 680 uninsured; 600 insured or insurable |
| How you apply | Online, with advisors by phone |
Lender, broker or both?
Both. In nesto’s own words, it went from “a broker to a full-end-to-end mortgage platform offering low rates, origination, funding, and servicing”, and it still holds mortgage brokerage licences, which its site footer lists by province. When nesto funds a mortgage itself it acts as the lender; when another lender’s product fits better, it brokers the deal. nesto doesn’t publish a count of the lenders it works with; it says its technology screens “the whole market” for a rate.
In June 2024 nesto announced that it had acquired the CMLS Group, a commercial and residential mortgage finance company founded in 1974. The announcement said all nesto, CMLS and Intellifi brands would remain, so CMLS still operates under its own name.
Rate hold and dated offers
nesto’s stated rate hold is Up to 150 days on select offers, which nesto compares with the 120 days it describes as typical for banks and lenders. A long hold matters most to buyers shopping months before closing and to homeowners who start a renewal early. As a general rule for pre-approvals:
A preapproval can hold an interest rate for 60 to 130 days, depending on the lender.Offers change, so these are dated descriptions rather than standing features. As of October 2026, nesto’s advisor pages described one float-down during the hold if rates drop, and its FAQ listed a 1% cash-back option; confirm the current terms with nesto. In October 2026 nesto’s own pages did not advertise a cash rate-match guarantee: the “beat it or $500” promise is True North Mortgage’s.
nesto shows its own rates on its public pages without an account. Rates across lenders are in our mortgage rates section.
How nesto’s advisors are paid
How nesto describes its advisors’ pay: Salaried, no commission; a possible quarterly bonus is not tied to the rate or product chosen. Most brokerages work differently, with agents earning a share of the lender’s payment on each deal; our guide to how mortgage brokers get paid explains that model. A salaried advisor has no pay reason to steer a borrower to a particular lender, though nesto itself still earns money on the mortgages it funds or arranges.
Products and who qualifies
nesto’s site lists fixed and variable terms for purchases, renewals and refinances, along with named products such as The nesto HELOC, Purchase Plus Improvement, a Cash Back Mortgage and a Prime Time Mortgage. It lends to prime borrowers: nesto says it “has strict lending guidelines that require a minimum credit score and no recent missed payments”, with minimums of 680 uninsured; 600 insured or insurable. Borrowers outside those lines usually look at B-lenders or the private lenders we compare, which aren’t nesto’s focus.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Rates shown up front, no account needed | No in-person offices |
| Long rate hold on select offers | Prime credit only |
| Salaried advisors, not paid by commission | Complex income files can fit a full-service broker better |
| Funds some mortgages itself and brokers others | Doesn’t publish how many lenders it compares |
Who nesto suits
nesto tends to suit borrowers with straightforward income and good credit who are comfortable doing the whole process online: first-time buyers with a long closing date, and homeowners comparing a renewal against their current lender. Borrowers with complex income can compare it with the options in our self-employed mortgage guide, and there is a separate guide for newcomers. Borrowers who want to sit down with an advisor will find stores at True North Mortgage, not at nesto.
How nesto compares
- Ratehub.ca is a comparison site with its own brokerage: see the Ratehub review.
- True North Mortgage has salaried advisors and retail stores: see the True North review.
- Perch adds home-value tracking for existing homeowners: see the Perch review.
- Homewise is a digital brokerage that negotiates with lenders for you: see the Homewise review.
The three best-known platforms are side by side in nesto vs Ratehub vs True North, and the wider choice between a bank, a broker and an online platform is in our digital mortgage comparison.
How we rated nesto
Our score for nesto is 4.5 out of 5, a judgment call by our editors rather than a formula. It scores well on transparency (rates without an account, a long hold, advisors without commission) and loses ground for serving only prime borrowers who are happy to work online.
Frequently asked questions
Is nesto a mortgage lender or a mortgage broker? Both. nesto funds and services some mortgages itself and brokers others, and it lists its brokerage licences by province on its site.
Are nesto’s advisors paid by commission? No. nesto describes its advisors’ pay this way: Salaried, no commission; a possible quarterly bonus is not tied to the rate or product chosen. nesto as a company earns money from the mortgages it arranges or funds.
Who owns CMLS? nesto announced its acquisition of the CMLS Group in June 2024 and said the CMLS brands would continue.
Related articles
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between September 29, 2026 and October 5, 2026. How we check facts.
- Financial Consumer Agency of Canada: Getting preapproved for a mortgage
- nesto: nesto's Answers to all your mortgage questions - FAQ - nesto.ca