1. Buying
  2. How Much Can I afford?

Mortgage Default Insurance or CMHC Insurance

Mortgage default insurance, which is commonly referred to as CMHC insurance, is mandatory in Canada for down payments between 5% (the minimum in Canada) and 19.99%. Mortgage default insurance protects lenders, in the event a borrower ever stopped making payments and defaulted on their mortgage loan.

Although mortgage default insurance costs homebuyers 2.80% - 4.00%1 of their mortgage amount, it does allow Canadians, who might not otherwise be able to purchase homes, access to the Canadian real estate market. Without it, mortgage rates would be higher, as the risk of default would increase. Lenders are able to offer lower mortgage rates when mortgages are protected by mortgage default insurance, because the risk of default is passed along to the mortgage insurer.

There are some requirements you have to meet in order to qualify for mortgage default insurance:

  • The maximum amortization for insured mortgages is 25 years.
  • If the purchase price is between $500,000 - $999,999 a higher down payment is required. The minimum down payment is 5% of the first $500,000, and 10% of the remaining amount.
  • Mortgage default insurance is not available on homes purchased for more than $1 million; this means that a 20% down payment is required on these homes.

Asking Price

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 STEP 1
Enter the price of the home you're interested in and press GO.
Down payment Down payment The amount of money you pay up front to obtain a mortgage. The minimum down payment in Canada is 5%. For down payments of less than 20%, home buyers are required to purchase mortgage default insurance, commonly referred to as CMHC insurance.
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Amortization period Amortization period The length of time it will take a homeowner to pay off his/her mortgage. In Canada, the maximum amortization period for insurable mortgages is 25 years. Longer amortization periods allow homeowners to make smaller monthly payments, but equate to more interest paid over the life of the mortgage.  
 
STEP 2
Choose an amortization period.
Mortgage insurance Mortgage insurance Mortgage default insurance, commonly referred to as CMHC insurance, protects the lender in the case the borrower defaults on the mortgage. Mortgage default insurance is required on all mortgages with down payments of less than 20%, which are known as high ratio mortgages. Mortgage default insurance is calculated as a percentage applied to your mortgage amount. plus
Total Mortgage Required equals $- $- $- $-

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To understand how mortgage default insurance is calculated and paid for, watch the video below.

Who offers mortgage default insurance?

There are three mortgage default insurance providers in Canada: the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Genworth Financial and Canada Guaranty.

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Mortgage default insurance rates (CMHC insurance rates)2

To determine which mortgage default insurance premium rate you have to pay, the first step is to calculate how much your down payment is as a percentage of your home’s purchase price. The chart below outlines the premium rates for each down payment scenario:

Date of Purchase Down Payment (% of Home Price)
5% - 9.99% 10% - 14.99% 15%-19.99% 20% or higher
Until May 31, 2015 3.15% 2.40% 1.80% 0.00%
As of June 1, 2015 3.60% 2.40% 1.80% 0.00%
As of March 17, 2017 4.00% 3.10% 2.80% 0.00%

Note: These same rates are charged by all three providers: CMHC, Genworth and Canada Guaranty.

How do you calculate mortgage default insurance?

Let's say you just purchased a home for $300,000 and made a $40,000 down payment. Your mortgage default insurance premium would be calculated as follows:

$ 300,000
House Value
$ 40,000
Down Payment
25 Yrs
Amortization
Step 1 : Calculate your down payment as a % of your home price
$40,000 down payment ÷ $300,000 home value =
13.33% down payment %
Step 2 : Calculate your mortgage amount
$300,000 home value $40,000 down payment =
$260,000 mnortgage amount
Step 3 : Calculate your mortgage insurance premium
$260,000 mortgage amount 3.10% insurance premium =
$8,060 insurance premium

How do you pay mortgage default insurance?

Mortgage default insurance is financed through your mortgage. Unlike closing costs, such as legal fees and land transfer tax, it does not require a lump sum cash outlay at the time you purchase your home. Instead, your mortgage default insurance premium is added to your mortgage amount and paid off over the life of your loan. Continuing with the above example, the revised mortgage amount would be $260,000 + $8,060 = $268,060; this is how much you would need to borrow from your lender, in order to purchase your home.

How to minimize mortgage default insurance

There is only one way to minimize your mortgage default insurance: increase your down payment as a percentage of your home price. To do this, you either have to increase the amount you put down or purchase a less expensive home. Examining the first option, you may want to consider additional sources for your down payment, such as a gift from a family member or, if you are a first-time homebuyer, a tax-free withdrawal from your RRSP.

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References and Notes

  1. As of March 17, 2017.
  2. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)