Mortgage loan insurance and premiums

Mortgage Loan Insurance from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) can help bring homeownership within reach.

What is Mortgage Loan Insurance?

Mortgage loan insurance is typically required by lenders when homebuyers make a down payment of less than 20% of the purchase price. Mortgage loan insurance helps protect lenders against mortgage default, and enables consumers to purchase homes with a minimum down payment starting at 5%* — with interest rates comparable to those offered with a larger down payment. To obtain mortgage loan insurance, lenders pay an insurance premium. Typically, your lender will pass this cost on to you. The premium is based on the loan-to-value ratio (mortgage loan amount divided by the purchase price). The premium can be paid in a single lump sum or it can be added to your mortgage and included in your monthly payments.

How much does it cost?

The following table provides you with a general idea of the premiums charged by CMHC. The exact premium will be calculated when you apply for a mortgage and provincial sales tax may apply.

CMHC’s online Mortgage Calculator can also help you with your estimations.

*The minimum down payment requirement for mortgage loan insurance depends on the purchase price of the home. For a purchase price of $500,000 or less, the minimum down payment is 5%. When the purchase price is above $500,000, the minimum down payment is 5% for the first $500,000 and 10% for the remaining portion. Mortgage loan insurance is available only for properties with a purchase price or as-improved/renovated value below $1,000,000.

**Premium savings may be available if you are porting an existing CMHC-insured mortgage or if you are using CMHC-insured financing to purchase an energy-efficient home or purchase an existing home and make energy-saving renovations. Ask your mortgage professional or visit www.cmhc.ca for more details about mortgage loan insurance, such as down payment requirements, portability, etc.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers a variety of publications, calculators and online tools to help you make informed and responsible homebuying decisions.

The information is provided by CMHC for general illustrative purposes only, and does not take into account the specific objectives, circumstances and individual needs of the reader. It does not provide advice, and should not be relied upon in that regard. The information is believed to be reliable, but its accuracy, completeness and currency cannot be guaranteed. Neither CMHC and its employees nor any other party identified in this Article (Lender, Broker, etc.) assumes any liability of any kind in connection with the information provided. CMHC stakeholders are permitted to distribute the materials at their expense. The above mentioned stakeholder organization is responsible for the distribution of this document.