Increase in CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance Premiums — Key Facts

Mortgage loan insurance helps protect lenders against mortgage default and enables consumers to purchase homes with a minimum down payment of 5% with interest rates comparable to those with a 20% down payment. Mortgage loan insurance is typically required by lenders when homebuyers make a down payment of less than 20% of the purchase price.

Effective May 1, 2014, CMHC is increasing its homeowner mortgage loan insurance premiums to reflect its increased capital targets. The increase applies to mortgage loan insurance premiums for owner occupied, self-employed and 1-to-4 unit rental properties, including low-ratio refinance premiums.

For the average Canadian homebuyer requiring CMHC insured financing, the higher premium will result in an increase of approximately $5 to their monthly mortgage payment. This is not expected to have a material impact the housing market. 

Effective May 1^st, 2014, CMHC Purchase (owner-occupied 1 – 4 unit properties) mortgage insurance premiums will be:

*CMHC mortgage loan insurance premium is calculated as a percentage of the loan based on the loan-to-value ratio. The premium can be paid in a single lump sum but more frequently is added to the mortgage principal and amortized over the life of the mortgage as part of regular mortgage payments.

**For loans with a loan-to-value ratio of 80% or less, the premium surcharge for every five years beyond the 25 year standard amortization period will increase from 0.20% to 0.25%.

CMHC’s new premium rates will be effective for new mortgage loan insurance requests submitted on or after May 1, 2014. In order to be eligible for the current mortgage loan insurance premiums, lenders must submit a request for mortgage loan insurance to CMHC prior to May 1, 2014, regardless of the closing date of the home purchase. As is normal practice, complete borrower and property details must be submitted to CMHC when requesting mortgage loan insurance.

Examples:

In 2013, the average CMHC insured loan at 95% loan-to-value was $248,000.

Based on a 5 year term @ 3.49% and a 25 year amortization

*Premiums in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec are subject to provincial sales tax — the sales tax cannot be added to the loan amount.

Based on a 5 year term @ 3.49% and a 25 year amortization

*Premiums in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec are subject to provincial sales tax — the sales tax cannot be added to the loan amount.

Frequently Asked Questions:

I recently signed a purchase and sale agreement on a home, the closing date is before May 1, 2014, and my mortgage will be CMHC-insured. Will the increase in premiums and surcharges affect me?

CMHC’s new premium rates will be effective for new mortgage loan insurance requests submitted to CMHC on or after May 1, 2014, regardless of the closing date of the home purchase.

In order to be eligible for the current (lower) mortgage loan insurance premiums and surcharges, your lender will need to submit a request for mortgage loan insurance to CMHC prior to May 1, 2014. As is normal practice, complete borrower and property details must be submitted to CMHC when requesting mortgage loan insurance.

I am planning to buy a home in the coming months and will require a CMHC-insured mortgage. Will the increase in mortgage loan insurance premiums and surcharges affect me?

If the request for mortgage loan insurance is submitted to CMHC on or after May 1, 2014, the new (higher) mortgage loan insurance premiums and surcharges will apply.

In order to be eligible for the current (lower) mortgage loan insurance premiums and surcharges, your lender will need to submit a complete request for mortgage loan insurance to CMHC prior to May 1, 2014. In addition to the application identifying you as the borrower, the application must also include the address of the property you will be purchasing.

I am planning to buy a home in the coming months and will require a CMHC-insured mortgage. If I do not know which property I will be purchasing before May 1, 2014, am I eligible for the current (lower) mortgage loan insurance premiums and surcharges?

Your lender will need to submit a complete mortgage loan insurance application to CMHC prior to May 1, 2014. Once your lender has obtained the necessary borrower and property information from you, they will be able to proceed with a CMHC mortgage loan insurance request.

If the request for mortgage loan insurance is submitted to CMHC on or after May 1, 2014, the new (higher) mortgage loan insurance premiums and surcharges will apply.

I am purchasing a home that is being built and will require a CMHC-insured mortgage. I will require progress advance draws which will occur on or after May 1, 2014. Will the increase in premiums and surcharges affect me?

As long as the complete request for mortgage loan insurance is received by CMHC prior to May 1, 2014, the application will be subject to the current (lower) mortgage loan insurance premiums even if progress draws are requested on or after May 1, 2014.

Refinance Loans

I am planning to refinance my home on or after May 1, 2014. Will the increase in premiums and surcharges affect me?

In order to be eligible for the current (lower) mortgage loan insurance premiums and surcharges, your lender will need to submit a request for mortgage loan insurance to CMHC prior to May 1, 2014. As is normal practice, complete borrower and property details must be submitted to CMHC when requesting mortgage loan insurance.

If the request for mortgage loan insurance is submitted to CMHC on or after May 1, 2014, the new (higher) mortgage loan insurance premiums and surcharges will apply.

Residential Rental Loans

I am purchasing a residential rental property (1 – 4 units). Are premiums increasing for rental properties too?

CMHC is increasing mortgage loan insurance premiums and surcharges on all 1 – 4 unit (transactionally) insured loans. The revised (higher) mortgage loan insurance premium schedule takes effect May 1, 2014. In order to be eligible for the current (lower) mortgage loan insurance premiums and surcharges, your lender will need to submit a complete request for mortgage loan insurance to CMHC prior to May 1, 2014.

If the request for mortgage loan insurance is submitted to CMHC on or after May 1, 2014, the new (higher) mortgage loan insurance premiums and surcharges will apply.

CMHC Self-Employed

Effective May 1^st, 2014, CMHC Self-Employed mortgage insurance premiums will be:

Note: Premiums shown with “*” do not apply for Refinance transactions.

Existing premiums will remain in effect until May 1^st, 2014. See here for existing premiums.

CMHC Income Property

Effective May 1^st, CMHC Income Property mortgage insurance premiums will be:

Note: Premiums shown with “*” do not apply for Refinance transactions.

Existing premiums will remain in effect until May 1^st, 2014. See here for existing premiums.

Revised Premium Surcharges

Extended Amortization Surcharge
For loans with a loan-to-value ratio of 80% or less, a 0.25% surcharge applies for every five years beyond the 25 year standard amortization period.

Blended Amortization Surcharge
For refinance loans and portability, a 0.60% surcharge applies where the amortization period of a CMHC-insured loan is blended, using a weighted average, with the amortization period of the Increase to Loan Amount. The blended amortization surcharge is applied to the Increase to Loan Amount.

Conversion Surcharge for Self-employed Borrowers Without Traditional Documentation to Support Income Verification
For conversion from Self-Employed with traditional 3^rd party income validation to Self Employed without traditional 3^rd party income validation, the premium is the lesser of: a) the Premium on Total Loan Amount or; b) the outstanding balance multiplied by a 1.75% premium plus the Premium on Increase to Loan Amount.

- Courtesy of CMHC