ARE YOU PLANNING TO BUY A HOUSE OVER $500K?

If so, you need to be aware that the down payment rules are changing as of February 15th, 2016. The most recent change to the mortgage rules requires people to put a larger down payment on property priced between $500,000 and $999,999.  Purchases over $1M require at least 20% down with most lenders requiring even larger down payments for purchase prices over $1.25M.

In Canada, all loans with less than 20% down payment require mortgage Insurance. By changing the guidelines for insured mortgages, the effect encompasses all lenders.

For purchases of $500,000 or below, a 5% down payment is still possible.  For purchases over $500,000, the down payment requirement gradually increases as 10% is required for the portion over $500,000.  For example, a $550,000 purchase will require $25,000 for the first $500,000 and $5,000 for the remaining $50,000. This is $5,000 more than previously required.

The old policies will remain in effect for files approved prior to February.. As most lenders hold rates for between 90 and 120 days, the actual completion date can extend to June.    

In our opinion, the silver lining here is that the government appears to feel they are not in a position to increase rates enough to slow down the market. For existing and new borrowers, this hints to continued low interest rates.

Here are a few examples of the new down payment requirements:

$500,000 ............ $25,000 ............... 5.00%

$550,000 ............ $30,000 ............... 5.45%

$600,000 ............ $35,000 ............... 5.83%

$650,000 ............ $40,000 ............... 6.15%

$700,000 ............ $45,000 ............... 6.43%

$750,000 ............ $50,000 ............... 6.67%

$800,000 ............ $55,000 ............... 6.88%

$850,000 ............ $60,000 ............... 7.06%

$900,000 ............ $65,000 ............... 7.23%

$950,000 ............ $70,000 ............... 7.37%

$999,999 ............ $74,999 ............... 7.50%