Are you Self-employed? Are you new to Canada? Just out of college? Buying an investment property? Previously declared bankruptcy? Don't worry. Getting a high ratio mortgage is about to get easier. The duopoly that has controlled Canada's mortgage-default insurance market for a decade is coming to an end. Earlier this year the new conservative government ended legislation that effectively prevented competition against Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Genworth Financial. And as a result we are about to see a brave new world of mortgage insurance.
The prospect of new competition alone has already done good things for Canadian homebuyers. When AIG United Guaranty Canada Inc. (AIGUG), a new subsidiary of U.S.-based American International Group Inc., took its first steps to enter the Canadian market about 2 years ago, CMHC and Genworth both reduced their premiums by 15%. In March, when it became obvious AIGUG will start business later this year, they cut prices, eliminated application fees and introduced new innovative products like interest-only and no-down-payment options as well as 30- or 35-year mortgages. As a result, Canada has seen more innovation in mortgage insurance in the last six months than in the previous five years. AIGUG is now in its final stages of regulatory approval and should be open for business in December. Two other U.S.-based mortgage insurers (PMI Group Inc. and Triad Guaranty Inc.) are close to completing the required approval process and will likely start business next year and spur even more competition.
What does this all mean for homebuyers? Competition among the insurers will result in further relaxation of underwriting guidelines for high ratio mortgages thereby making mortgage qualification easier for people who previously could not qualify. Homebuyers who would benefit the most are those considered higher risk such as self-employed individuals, people earning commissions, new immigrants to Canada and people whom, for whatever reason, have credit blemishes in their record. Currently, CMHC requires a minimum 5% down payment although they allow the 5% to be borrowed from elsewhere. AIGUG will lower the down-payment requirements even further by insuring "a real zero-down product" with no money required upfront at all. They will also insure 40-year amortization mortgages thereby allowing you to enter the home ownership market sooner with lower monthly payments. As circumstances change, you can make lump-sum payments, accelerate payments or change terms to pay off your mortgage quicker.
It is important however, to note that a consequence of these changes is that people who really cannot afford (and should not apply for) a mortgage will qualify and risk being foreclosed on when they eventually cannot afford the mortgage payments anymore. Canada's mortgage industry seems headed towards the high-risk housing market in the United States, which is now plaguing the U.S. economy as real estate prices fall.