Mortgages: What is CMHC insurance in Canada?
This insurance is actually called mortgage loan insurance, although it is often referred to as “CMHC insurance”. This is an essential expense in Canada for all homebuyers with a down payment of less than 20% of the total purchase price of the property. CMHC’s role is to protect lenders if you stop making your payments, causing you to default on your loan agreement. The CMHC fee is paid monthly from the beginning of yourmortgage term. The amount of mortgage defaultinsurance you require may vary depending on the amount of down payment you have made on your property. It ranges from 2.8% to 4% (or 0% if you put more than 20% down). Although it may seem like a lot of money, it serves a purpose. Because it gives lenders additional protection, they are more likely to lend to borrowers with smaller down payments, which can benefit Canadians who might not otherwise have the funds to purchase their homes. This means that lenders do not charge higher interest rates to reflect the higher level of risk they are taking on, as the risk is shifted from the lender to the mortgage insurance company.
How do I calculate mortgage default insurance?
To calculate your mortgage default insurance, you must first determine the level of the down payment you will be making. This percentage can range from 5% to 20%, and the level of mortgage insurance decreases as the down payment increases:
- 5% down payment = 3.8% CMHC
- 10% down payment = 2.79% CMHC
- 15% down payment = 2.38% CMHC
- 15>% down payment = 0% CMHC
Based on the above, it is clear that if you want to minimize your monthly payments significantly, it is essential to try to make a down payment of at least 20% when applying for your mortgage. As you will see in the next point, the monthly cost can be greatly affected by simply increasing your down payment by 5%.
How do I pay for mortgage insurance?
Mortgage default insurance is deducted from your mortgage payments. There is no large lump sum payment to obtain this insurance. Instead, your payments are added to your mortgage and paid off during the amortization period of your mortgage. For example, let’s say you buy a property for $500,000 with a 10% down payment. This means you will have to pay 2.79% CMHC, which equals $13,950. This means that your mortgage will be based on $500,000 + $13,950 = $513,950 in total. This is the total amount you will need to borrow from the lender of your choice when you purchase your home.
Mortgage default insurance providers
There are three main providers of mortgage default insurance in Canada. They are distributed under the name “Canada Mortgage Corporation”:
When you store for mortgage insurance, these are the entities from which you will obtain it.
Tips for reducing your mortgage insurance
The only real way to reduce the amount you pay each month on top of your base mortgage with the addition of mortgage default insurance is to increase the down payment you make on your property. You’ll have two advantages, because with a larger down payment, you’ll need to borrow less, so your overall monthly payments will be lower. Those looking to reduce their monthly expenses will be at a great advantage. Overall, you have two options. You can either find a property with a lower purchase price (which will allow you to make a larger down payment), or you can save more to increase your down payment. You can also turn to family members who may be willing to lend you additional funds to get you closer to that magic 20% down payment level. These are the main reasons why it is essential to plan your strategy when buying a property.
Our featured card
- Annual fee
- $120
- Our valuation
- $990Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 110,000 points
- Ends Sep 22, 2026
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Our editorial integrity
Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.