Effective March 17, 2017…Higher CMHC premiums

CMHC is increasing their premiums on mortgage default Insurance for the 3rd time in 4 years. Here’s what it will look like.

Loan-to-Value Ratio Standard Premium (Current Standard Premium (Effective March 17, 2017)
Up to and including 65% 0.60% 0.60%
Up to and including 75% 0.75% 1.70%
Up to and including 80% 1.25% 2.40%
Up to and including 85% 1.80% 2.80%
Up to and including 90% 2.40% 3.10%
Up to and including 95% 3.60% 4.00%
90.01% to 95% – Non-Traditional Down Payment 3.85% 4.50%


Wondering why they need to increase the premiums? It’s not about trying to discourage homebuyers. It’s to “preserve the returns on capital”, according to Steven Mennill, SVP CMHC. Yup, the Crown corporation wants to focus on profit. (show me the money). At least they’re being honest about it. The overall amount of mortgages insured by CMHC has dropped in the past 4 years. Down from $576billion to around $512billion. So, it’s about maintaining profits while their book of business is shrinking.

Having said that, CMHC has lowered, increased and lowered their insurance premiums before. We can expect them to change and adjust again.

In case you are wondering why the overall volume is going down when house prices are going up, it’s because the Fed govt has changed the mortgage rules so that it becomes more difficult to qualify for a mortgage. Therefore, the amount of mortgages CMHC can insure is going down.

Now for some good news..

The overall cost to your mortgage is minimal. Oh yeah, one more thing…without CMHC, we would all be digging deeper into our pockets to come up with 20% or 25% down, like the old days. And while some may think that is how it should be, those days are long gone. First time homebuyers don’t have $100k, or $200k sitting around to buy a home. They need help.. And what’s wrong with helping our youth that are ambitious enough to want to own a home?

CMHC is a necessary evil.

By Steve Garganis

- Posted by Steven Porter, Mortgage Agent - Mortgage Architects
Steven can be reached through his website at www.1800Mortgages.ca