Blog
What is CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance

What is CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance?

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is the country’s largest mortgage insurer and acts as the country’s housing authority. They’re a federal organization that helps Canadians find inexpensive housing. 

In addition to home loan insurance, the CMHC offers a variety of financial management and mortgage aid products. Payment deferrals, repayment period extensions, missed mortgage payment mixing, and conversions from variable to fixed-rate mortgages are all examples of these.

As a homebuyer, you are legally obligated to put a down payment on a house. A down payment is an upfront payment of a percentage of the purchase price. The amount of your down payment might be as little as 5% and will vary depending on the price of your house. 

In Canada, if your down payment is less than 20% of the purchase price, you must obtain mortgage loan insurance (also known as mortgage default insurance) and pay an insurance premium. Although others, such as Sagen, formerly Genworth Financial, offer home loan insurance, CMHC is the most prevalent in Canada.

 

CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance Premium Rates

Depending on the size of your down payment, the total value of your CMHC mortgage insurance premium might range from 0.6 percent to 4.5 percent of your mortgage. The larger your down payment, the lower your monthly cost will be. 

This premium can be paid in full or in installments , with the latter being added to your monthly mortgage payments. If you roll your premium payments into your mortgage, you’ll have to apply the mortgage interest rate to the premium, which will cost you more in the long run.

In Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and/or Manitoba, whether you pay your premium in whole or as part of your mortgage, it will be subject to provincial sales tax. The HST (13 percent) on mortgage default insurance is paid upfront at closing in Ontario.

 

What is the Purpose of CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance?

Mortgage loan insurance protects your lender if you don’t make your monthly mortgage payments and default on your loan. Lenders pay insurance for their mortgage loans to prevent losses, and then pass these costs on to the borrowers.

Many Canadian financial institutions will not give mortgages for more than 80% of the buying price. If your down payment is less than 20% of the purchase price, your mortgage will be pushed outside of the defined boundaries of a conventional mortgage and into the high-ratio category. This makes your mortgage a higher or moderate risk for almost every lender.

Mortgage loan insurance from CMHC can help protect your investment.

 

Also Read: Second Mortgage Lender in Canada

 

Who Qualifies for CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance?

If your down payment is less than 20% of the property’s purchase price, CMHC mortgage loan insurance is normally required. Even if your down payment is greater than the statutory 20%, you may be compelled to obtain mortgage default insurance

Your lender may require you to insure your mortgage before working with you if you have a poor credit score or an inconsistent, unreliable, or less traditional source of income.

Many purchasers are also excluded from the requirement of mortgage loan insurance. You may not require or qualify for CMHC mortgage loan insurance for the following reasons:

  • Unless your credit score is poor, you will often be excluded from having to acquire mortgage loan insurance if you make a down payment of more than 20% of the property purchase price.
  • You may not be eligible for CMHC if your credit score is too low or your credit history is too bad.
  • You may not be eligible if your debt-to-income ratios surpass the level specified by the insurer.
  • Your property is worth more than $1 million Canadian dollars. Because the legal minimum down payment for these residences is already 20%, CMHC mortgage loan insurance is not required.
  • Mortgage default insurance is not available for homes with an amortization duration of more than 25 years.

Pros of Getting a CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance

While many homeowners prefer to avoid paying CMHC mortgage loan insurance charges, this is not always possible. It can be difficult to save enough money to cover 20% of the purchasing price of your property. 

CMHC mortgage loan insurance, as well as other similar insurance programs, can assist in making homeownership more accessible to a wider spectrum of people. CMHC mortgage loan insurance can be a wonderful alternative for you whether you are a first-time buyer, a young parent, or just want to keep your savings for other projects. 

You can become a homeowner sooner than you think with the help of CMHC insurance, allowing you to benefit from the rising value of your home over time.

You can get a mortgage for up to 95% of the purchase price of your property with CMHC mortgage loan insurance (as long as the price is less than $1 million CAD), allowing you to invest in properties that otherwise would be out of your price range.

Mortgage loan insurance from CMHC might also assist you get a lower interest rate on your loan. You lessen the risk to the lender by insuring your mortgage, which frequently translates in lower interest rates for you, the borrower.

Another advantage of CMHC mortgage loan insurance is the stability it may provide to both borrowers and lenders in times of economic uncertainty (such as those caused by the pandemic).

By insuring the mortgage, the borrower can buy a home without putting up too much money upfront, and the lender can relax knowing that their investment is safe.

It’s also important to note that CMHC mortgage loan insurance has significant drawbacks. The expense of the insurance premium is the most evident disadvantage. If you can’t pay this amount in full at once, you’ll have to pay interest on it monthly, which will raise your overall expenditures.

Working with a skilled mortgage broker and exploring your alternatives is the best way to evaluate whether CMHC home loan insurance is the correct choice for you. You can decide on the optimal purchase plan for your specific scenario together.

Schedule a free consultation with a trusted Freedom Capital broker now if you’re seeking expert mortgage assistance targeted to your specific circumstances!

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Related Articles

Apply today for Consultation with our Mortgage Specialist

Scroll to Top
Scroll to Top