In forceMortgage Qualification
A qualifying insured straight switch at renewal may avoid another minimum-qualifying-rate test, but the receiving lender still reviews the mortgage and can decline it under its own policy.
- Announced
- Nov 21, 2023
- Effective
- Dec 15, 2024
- Applies to
- Renewing Homeowner
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In forceMortgage Qualification
No. The higher insured-price cap expands eligibility for purchases below the program limit, but the lender and insurer still assess the borrower and property, and a lower appraisal can increase the cash required.
- Announced
- Sep 16, 2024
- Effective
- Dec 15, 2024
- Applies to
- Home Buyer
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In forceDown Payment
The federal minimum on a $1.2 million purchase is $95,000: 5% of the first $500,000 plus 10% of the remaining $700,000, provided the mortgage and property qualify for insurance.
- Announced
- Sep 16, 2024
- Effective
- Dec 15, 2024
- Applies to
- First Time Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceMortgage Qualification
A qualifying-rate exemption may apply to a true uninsured straight switch at renewal, but it is not a promise that every lender must accept the mortgage without reviewing the file.
- Announced
- Nov 21, 2024
- Effective
- Nov 21, 2024
- Applies to
- Renewing Homeowner
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance
Because mortgage brokers, administrators and lenders are reporting entities under Canada’s anti-money-laundering framework and must verify people and entities for specified mortgage records and transactions.
- Announced
- Oct 11, 2024
- Effective
- Oct 11, 2024
- Applies to
- Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance
Many prescribed mortgage-sector records must be retained for at least five years, although the starting date varies by record. Privacy, brokerage and other legal retention requirements may also apply.
- Announced
- Oct 11, 2024
- Effective
- Oct 11, 2024
- Applies to
- Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance
Yes. Suspicious Transaction Reports are based on reasonable grounds to suspect specified financial-crime activity, not on reaching a fixed dollar threshold, and attempted transactions can also be relevant.
- Announced
- Apr 8, 2024
- Effective
- Oct 11, 2024
- Applies to
- Business Owner · Home Buyer
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Lender policy guidanceFINTRAC Compliance
No. FINTRAC creates identity, recordkeeping, monitoring and reporting obligations, but it does not prescribe one universal 90-day down-payment statement rule. Ninety days is commonly an insurer or lender documentation period.
- Announced
- Oct 11, 2024
- Effective
- Oct 11, 2024
- Applies to
- Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance
Because mortgage brokers and lenders must take reasonable measures in prescribed circumstances to identify politically exposed persons, heads of international organizations and certain family members or close associates.
- Announced
- Oct 11, 2024
- Effective
- Oct 11, 2024
- Applies to
- Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance
Mortgage-sector reporting entities have third-party determination duties for specified records and reports. They may need to understand whether the named client is acting for someone else or whether another person controls the transaction.
- Announced
- Oct 11, 2024
- Effective
- Oct 11, 2024
- Applies to
- Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance
Because identifying the individuals who ultimately own or control an entity helps prevent anonymous companies, trusts or partnerships from hiding who is behind a mortgage transaction.
- Announced
- Jun 16, 2026
- Effective
- Oct 11, 2024
- Applies to
- Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance
FINTRAC recordkeeping rules require mortgage-sector information records to include a person’s occupation or a sole proprietor’s principal business, and entity records must include the nature of the entity’s business.
- Announced
- Oct 11, 2024
- Effective
- Oct 11, 2024
- Applies to
- Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceMortgage Qualification
Usually yes. The longer amortization can reduce the required payment, but CMHC applies a 20-basis-point insurance-premium surcharge to eligible 30-year insured mortgages, and slower principal repayment can increase total interest.
- Announced
- Jul 10, 2024
- Effective
- Aug 1, 2024
- Applies to
- First Time Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceFHSA And Home Buyers' Plan
For a first HBP withdrawal made from 2022 through 2025, temporary relief generally delays the start of the 15-year repayment period until the fifth year after the withdrawal year.
- Announced
- Apr 11, 2024
- Effective
- Jan 1, 2024
- Applies to
- First Time Buyer
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In forceMortgage Qualification
Possibly, but not automatically. FCAC expects federally regulated institutions to consider waiving prepayment penalties when appropriate for qualifying consumers in severe financial difficulty.
- Announced
- Jul 5, 2023
- Effective
- Jul 5, 2023
- Applies to
- Homeowner
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In forceDown Payment
The withdrawal must meet CRA’s qualifying-withdrawal conditions, including first-time-buyer status at the required time, a written agreement for a qualifying home, Canadian residency, acquisition timing and an intention to occupy the home as a…
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2023
- Applies to
- First Time Home Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceHousing Tax
No. Up to $50,000 is the qualifying-expenditure ceiling for an eligible renovation—not the cheque amount. The refundable credit is a percentage of eligible costs and the rate can depend on the tax year.
- Announced
- Apr 7, 2022
- Effective
- Jan 1, 2023
- Applies to
- Homeowner · Investor
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In forceClosing Cost
No. Ontario NRST exemptions and rebates have specific purchaser, spouse, immigration, occupancy, registration, documentation and deadline conditions. Expecting future status does not by itself remove tax at closing.
- Effective
- Oct 25, 2022
- Applies to
- First Time Home Buyer · Home Buyer
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