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Blog by Troy Mitchell

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CMHC Lowers Down Payment

Effective immediately:

A federal law that lowers the level where mortgage insurance is required came into effect Friday, and we believe the change could save many would-be homebuyers $2,000 or more.

For the last 40 years, homebuyers have been required to buy mortgage insurance from Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC) or another insurer unless their down payment equaled at least 25 per cent of the purchase price.

With a down payment of at least 20 per cent, mortgage insurance will no longer be required.

One of the changes in Bill C-37 is to cut the requirement for mortgage insurance to purchases with a down payment of less than 20 per cent.

“The effect of that change is that at least 10 per cent of buyers will now not have to buy insurance,” BMO Bank of Montreal vice-president Cid Palacio.