New Rules For Mortgage Finance in Canada
The government will:
1) Reduce the maximum amortization (pay back) period on a mortgage to 25 years from 30 years;
2) Lower the maximum amount borrowers can refinance to 80% loan-to-value (LTV) from 85%;
3) Limit the gross debt service (GDS) ratio - the amount of household
income spent on the mortgage, property taxes and heating to a maximum of
39%of income. The total debt service (TDS) ratio – the amount of
household income spent on all debts including the mortgage to a maximum
44% of income; and
4) Limit government-insured mortgages to
homes priced at less than $1 million. Buyers of homes priced at $1
million or more must have a minimum 20% downpayment.
The new rules apply to mortgages on residential property with four units or less.
They DO NOT apply to:
1) Uninsured mortgages (those with a 20% downpayment or more) which don’t require government-backed mortgage insurance;
2) Borrowers renewing their existing insured mortgages, where there are no new funds being added to the mortgage; or
3) Development or construction of multi-unit buildings of five units or more, owned by a landlord.
Refinancing: What will the new rules cost buyers refinancing a home valued at $625,000?
• Refinancing at 85%, home owner can access up to $531,250
• Refinancing at 80%, home owner can access up to $500,000
Four years of tightening borrowing rules: This is the fourth time in four years that the government has tightened borrowing rules.
1) In 2008, the government reduced the maximum amortization period to 35 years from 40, required home buyers to have a minimum down payment of 5% (compared to the previous 0% down), and introduced new loan documentation standards.2) In 2010, the government required all borrowers to meet standards for a five-year fixed-rate mortgage, reduced the maximum amount borrowers could refinance to 90% from 95%, and for non-owner-occupied investment properties, required a minimum 20% down payment.
3) In January
2011, the government reduced the maximum amortization period for
government-backed insured mortgages to 30 years from 35 years and
reduced the amount borrowers could refinance to 85% from 90%.
Questions about the new mortgage rules
Q What is required to qualify for an exception to the new parameters?
A The new measures apply as of July 9, 2012.
Exceptions will be made to satisfy a binding purchase and sale,
financing or refinancing agreement where a mortgage insurance
application has been made before July 9, 2012. While the changes come
into force on July 9, 2012, any mortgage insurance applications received
after June 21, 2012 and before July 9, 2012 that do not conform to new
measures must be funded by December 31, 2012.
Q Will a purchase and sale
agreement dated prior to July 9, 2012 be considered binding if there are
outstanding conditions that have not been fulfilled prior to July 9,
2012?
A Yes, if the date on
the purchase and sale agreement is earlier than July 9, 2012, and a
mortgage insurance application has been made prior to that date, the new
parameters will not apply, even if the conditions of the agreement have
not been fulfilled.
Q Will the new refinancing
rules allow a borrower with a mortgage above 80 per cent loan-to-value
(LTV) to refinance by extending the amortization period?
A
No. Effective July 9, 2012, borrowers will not be permitted to
refinance a mortgage above an 80 per cent LTV, unless the borrower has a
binding refinance agreement dated prior to July 9, 2012, and a mortgage
insurance agreement has been made prior to that date.
Q I have a written mortgage
pre-approval from a lender, dated before July 9, 2012 with a 30-year
amortization. Will I be eligible for a 30-year amortization if I don’t
sign an agreement of purchase and sale until July 9, 2012 or later?
A
No, a mortgage pre-approval without an agreement of purchase and sale
is not sufficient to qualify for a 30-year amortization. You may have a
30-year amortization only if your agreement of purchase and sale is
dated before July 9, 2012 and you have made a mortgage insurance
application before July 9, 2012. You may wish to discuss with your
lender to revise your mortgage pre-approval using the new parameters
announced.
Q Will the new parameters apply
to assignment (“switch” or transfer) of a previously insured loan from
one approved lender to another?
A No.
As long as the loan amount and amortization period are not increased,
the new parameters will not apply to a switch/transfer/assignment of the
mortgage to a different lender.
Q If I sell my current home and
buy another, will the new parameters apply if I transfer the
outstanding balance of my insured mortgage to the new home?
A
As long as the outstanding balance of the insured loan, the LTV ratio
and the remainder of the amortization period are not increased, the new
parameters will not apply when the mortgage insurance is transferred
from one home to another.
Q What if I need to increase the amount of my insured loan when I sell my current home and buy another?
A In this situation, the new parameters will apply for any insured loan.
Q If I bought a condo that is not expected to be built for another two years, will the new parameters apply?
A
If you bought a condo and have made a mortgage insurance application
on or before June 21, then the new parameters would not apply. If you
buy a condo and make a mortgage insurance application after June 21, the
new parameters will apply if the mortgage loan is not funded by
December 31, 2012.
Remember to seek advice from a lender about mortgage pre-approvals under the new rules.