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A home purchase requires a payment to be made either from the person own pocket or through raising a mortgage. A conventional mortgage is a term that often comes up in a person search. It is a residential mortgage that is not insured by the Government of Canada. Risky? Actually not. You get to enjoy the perks while the lenders face uncertainty.
In this blog, we will do a detailed study of the conventional mortgage and gain a better understanding of its benefits, eligibility criteria, interest rates, and qualification documents.
A conventional mortgage is a loan-to-value mortgage in which you make a down payment of 20% or more of the value of the property and receive a loan value equal to at least 80% of the purchase price of the property. This means that a minimum down payment of 20% of the property purchase price is required to be eligible for a conventional loan in Canada.
The lending value is the 80 percent of your mortgage that is given by your mortgage lender. The buyer can use other resources to fund the down payment. This could be money or revenue from the sale of other assets they possess. Normally, a traditional mortgage down payment cannot be financed with borrowed funds.
The mortgage industry is not exempt from the influence of the Bank Act of Canada, which governs many parts of the financial sector. A chartered bank is not permitted by law to provide mortgage finance without insurance for more than a specific portion of the property value. This restriction was previously set at 75 percent. It was raised to 80 percent for most residential single-family mortgages on April 20, 2007.
An example to help you understand what a conventional mortgage is:
Your down payment must be at least CAD 40,000 if you are purchasing a property for over CAD 200,000 in order to be eligible for a conventional mortgage. You must get a high-ratio mortgage if you need to borrow more than CAD 160,000 for a CAD 200,000 house. Mortgages with high ratios can be acquired with as little as a 5% down payment.
In the above example, we find that 20% of CAD 200,000 is CAD 40,000, which is marked as the down payment. A loan has just been raised against the rest of the amount, that is, CAD 160,000.
The conventional mortgage is when you have 20% of the down payment and opt for a loan for the remaining 80%. In Canada, this gets you exempted by the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) and you don't have to purchase mortgage insurance. The down payment for traditional loans cannot be financed with borrowed money. The proceeds from the sale of other property or personal funds may be used. The down payment for traditional loans cannot be financed with borrowed money. The proceeds from the sale of other property or personal funds may be used.
The workings of a conventional mortgage can be understood in the following example:
For instance, a typical mortgage can be obtained with a CAD 50,000 down payment. indicating that the value of the home you wish to purchase cannot exceed CAD 250,000. However, you'll have to apply for a high-ratio mortgage if you need to borrow more than 80% of the value of the house.
Conventional mortgages have the following benefits:
The larger down payment guarantees more equity, which gives homeowners access to financial tools like Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs).
It allows you to borrow less money, which means that the monthly payment you make will be less too.
One can tap into their home equity for cash if there is an emergency.
Since the downpayment is high, the interest rate becomes low. Thus, you will be saved from paying the extra interest rates.
There are more mortgage choices and the control of mortgage insurance is in your control.
A conventional mortgage has the following drawbacks:
The credit score must be 620 or higher. This is an eligibility requirement that cannot be waived off.
A high rate of debt to income ratio is required.
If the homebuyer has had any recent bankruptcy or foreclosures, getting a conventional mortgage will be a difficult task. It might be that the lender may not approve it at all.
Any person can apply for a conventional mortgage. The lender does full research to check if you meet their eligibility criteria. Since this is an uninsured mortgage, the lenders mainly look for three things. The eligibility requirement for a conventional mortgage is:
A person should be able to manage the upfront costs like closing costs over the down payment.
The minimum credit score must be met by the borrower. The required credit score to qualify for a conventional mortgage is 600 for banks, 550 for B lenders; 600 for CMHC insured mortgages; and no credit score is required for private lenders.
A person gross and total debt service ratios determine a person mortgage payment.
There is no set interest rate on conventional mortgages. The following factors influence the interest rate offered to you:
Your credit history
The tenure of the mortgage
The amortisation period
The current prime rate
Your preference for either the fixed or variable rate
The overall loan amount
The following are the current interest rates on conventional mortgages:
| Mortgage Term | Interest Rate |
| 6 months | 4.69% |
| 1 year | 4.09% |
| 2 years | 4.49% |
| 3 years | 4.59% |
| 4 years | 4.69% |
| 5 years | 4.89% |
| 10 years | 5.34% |
A person can use the following tips to get the best interest rates:
They decrease their debt-to-income ratio (DTI).
Improve credit score.
Increase the amount of the down payment.
Hold onto any big purchases.
The following are the categories of credit scores:
| Credit Score Range | Category |
| 760+ | Excellent |
| 725 - 759 | Very Good |
| 660 - 724 | Good |
| 579 - 659 | Fair |
| 300 - 574 | Poor |
Qualifying for a conventional mortgage is difficult. The borrower needs to maintain a good credit score. The lender will calculate their debt-to-income ratio (DTI) to check if they can handle their mortgage payments made monthly. A stress test will be conducted and the lender will assess the borrower capability to handle extra costs over the mortgage, like closing costs. The lender determines your worth by studying the following documents:
The following documents count as proof of income:
A letter expressing your present salary or hourly wage rate.
Amount of time employed by the current company.
Employment position.
Notices of assessment from the CRA for the past two years for self-employed workers
Any additional income, such as spousal support or bonuses.
The lender requires the following documents to determine the amount of the down payment the borrower will be able to make:
Financial statements from bank accounts or investments
Gift letters stating that the money received from a friend or family member is not a loan and has no required repayment.
Your qualification depends upon how well you handle your debts or financial obligations. These might include your monthly payments for:
Car loans
Lines of credit
Student loans
Credit card balances
Child or spousal support
Any other debts
For the purpose of checking your credit score, the lender might require your Social Security Number and your driving licence as identification.
Isn't a conventional mortgage desirable? Gather your money and apply for a mortgage now!
Ans. The required down payment on a conventional mortgage is 20–35%, making the LTV ratio 65–80%.
Ans. Qualifying for a conventional loan can be difficult. The borrower needs to maintain a good credit score and a low DTI ratio.
Ans. People want conventional loans because they eliminate any form of high ratio or lender insurance premium.
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