Mortgage Default Insurance (CMHC Insurance)

Mortgage default insurance, which is commonly referred to as CMHC insurance, is mandatory in Canada for down payments between 5% (the minimum in Canada) and 19.99%. Mortgage default insurance protects lenders, in the event a borrower ever stopped making payments and defaulted on their mortgage loan.

Although mortgage default insurance costs homebuyers 2.80% – 4.00% of their mortgage amount, it does allow Canadians, who might not otherwise be able to purchase homes, access to the Canadian real estate market. Without it, mortgage rates would be higher, as the risk of default would increase. Lenders are able to offer lower mortgage rates when mortgages are protected by mortgage default insurance, because the risk of default is passed along to the mortgage insurer.

The calculator below will give you an idea of how much CMHC insurance might cost on your mortgage. Put in an asking price and a down payment amount and it will estimate your mortgage insurance premium.

CMHC insurance calculator

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MORTGAGE DEFAULT INSURANCE RATES (CMHC INSURANCE RATES)

To determine which mortgage default insurance premium rate you have to pay, the first step is to calculate how much your down payment is as a percentage of your home’s purchase price. The chart below outlines the premium rates for each down payment scenario:

HOW DO YOU CALCULATE MORTGAGE DEFAULT INSURANCE?

To understand how mortgage default insurance is calculated and paid for quickly, watch the video below. Scroll down further for more details on the calculations.

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