Article content It’s been a great time for sellers, but not so great for those looking to get into the market or upsize. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or Analysis: New stress test rate makes it more difficult for home buyers to qualify for mortgage Back to video Now the federal government is effectively putting another significant hurdle on the path to home ownership that will especially impact first-time buyers. In May, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) and the federal government raised the mortgage “stress test” bar for anyone who applies for a mortgage in Canada.