Mortgage Loan Insurance: Quick Reference Guide
This handy quick reference tool provides helpful information to submit applications to CMHC for homeowner and small rental loans, for all CMHC programs: Purchase, Improvement, Newcomers, Self-Employed, Green Home, Portability, and Income Property.
Benefits of mortgage insurance
Some of the benefits of CMHC mortgage loan insurance include:
- Available for purchase of an existing residential property with or without improvements and for new construction financing.
- Our Green Home program offers a partial mortgage loan insurance premium refund of up to 25%. Refunds are available directly to borrowers who buy, build or renovate for energy efficiency using CMHC-insured financing. Find out more with our Green Home Program.
- Self-employed borrowers with documentation to support their income have access to CMHC mortgage loan insurance.
- Our portability feature saves money for repeat users of mortgage loan insurance by reducing or eliminating the premium payable on the new insured loan for the purchase of a subsequent home.
Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratios
For homeowner loans (owner-occupied properties), the Loan-to-Value ratio for 1–2 units is up to 95% LTV. For 3–4 units, the ratio is up to 90% LTV.
For small rental loans (non-owner occupied), the ratio is up to 80% LTV.
Minimum equity requirements
For homeowner loans, the minimum equity requirement for 1–2 units is 5% of the first $500,000 of lending value and 10% of the remainder of the lending value. For 3–4 units, the minimum equity requirement is 10%.
For small rental loans, the minimum equity requirement is 20%.
Purchase price / lending value, amortization and location
For both homeowner and small rental loans, the maximum purchase price / lending value or as-improved property value must be below $1,000,000.
The maximum amortization period is 25 years.
The property must be located in Canada and must be suitable and available for full-time, year-round occupancy. The property must also have year-round access including homes located on an island (via a vehicular bridge or ferry).
Traditional and non-traditional down payments
A traditional down payment comes from sources such as savings, the sale of a property, or a non-repayable financial gift from a relative.
A non-traditional down payment must be arm’s length and not tied to the purchase and sale of the property, either directly or indirectly such as unsecured personal loans or unsecured lines of credit. Non-traditional down payments are available for 1–2 units, with 90.01% to 95% LTV, with a recommended minimum credit score of 650.
Creditworthiness
At least one borrower (or guarantor) must have a minimum credit score of 600. In certain circumstances, a higher recommended minimum credit score may be required. CMHC may consider alternative methods of establishing creditworthiness for borrowers without a credit history.
Debt service guidelines
The standard threshold is GDS 35% / TDS 42%. The maximum threshold is GDS 39% / TDS 44% (recommended minimum credit score of 680). CMHC considers the strength of the overall mortgage loan insurance application including the recommended minimum credit scores.
Interest rates
The GDS and TDS ratios must be calculated using an interest rate which is the greater of the contract interest rate or the Bank of Canada’s 5-year conventional mortgage interest rate.
Advancing options
Single advances include improvement costs less than or equal to 10% of the as-improved value.
Progress advances include new construction financing or improvement costs greater than 10% of the as-improved value. With Full Service, CMHC validates up to 4 consecutive advances at no cost. For Basic Service, the Lender validates advances without pre-approval from CMHC.
Non-permanent residents (homeowner loans only)
Non-permanent residents must be legally authorized to work in Canada (i.e. a work permit). Mortgage loan insurance is only available for non-permanent residents for homeowner loans for 1 unit, up to 90% LTV, with a down payment from traditional sources.
Find out more
For more information about CMHC mortgage loan insurance:
