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New To Canada Program

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Now qualified homebuyers who have immigrated or relocated to Canada can qualify for Genworth default mortgage insurance with as little as a 5% down payment.

Acceptable loan purpose

  • Purchase transactions

Loan-to-value ratio limits

  • Maximum LTV ratio - 95.00%

Max Loan Amounts

  • No Maximum Loan Amount

Eligible properties

  • Maximum two units where at least one unit must be occupied as the principal residence
  • New construction or existing properties

Terms

  • Fixed, standard variable, capped variable and adjustable rate mortgages are permitted

Amortization options:

  • LTV > 80%: Up to 30 years
  • LTV ≤ 80%: Up to 40 years

Premium Rates

LTV ratioPremium rate*
Up to 65%0.50 %
65.01% - 75%0.65 %
75.01% - 80%1.00 %
80.01% - 85%1.75 %
85.01% - 90%2.00 %
90.01% - 95%2.75 %
Premium is non-refundable.
* a .20% premium surcharge will be applied to the above premium rates for every 5 years of amortization beyond the traditional 25-year mortgage amortization period

Borrower qualification 

  • Must have immigrated or relocated to Canada within the last 36 months
  • 3 months minimum full time employment in Canada (borrowers being transferred under a corporate relocation program are exempt)
  • Must have a valid work permit or obtained landed immigrant status
  • For 95% LTV, down payment must be from own resources. For LTV's less than 95%, the remainder may be gifted from an immediate family member or from a corporate subsidy. 
  • All debts held outside of the country must be included in the total debt servicing ratio (Rental income earned outside of Canada is to be excluded from the GDS/TDS calculation)
  • Guarantors are not permitted.
  • GDS/TDS Guidelines: 

    Credit Score

    GDS

    TDS

    <680

    35%

    42%

    680+No limit44%

Documentation Requirements (To be kept on file by lender)

LTV

Documentation requirements*

All LTV's

  • Valid work permit or verification of landed immigrant status
  • Income Confirmation
  • Down payment confirmation
  • Purchase and Sale agreement

Up to 90%

  • Letter of reference from a recognized financial institution
    OR
    Six (6) months of bank statements from primary account

90.01 - 95%

  • International credit report demonstrating a strong credit profile
    OR
    Two (2) alternative sources of credit demonstrating timely payments (no arrears) for the past 12 months. The two alternative sources required are:
    • Rental payment history confirmed via letter from landlord and bank statements **
    • One other alternative source (hydro/utilities, telephone, cable) to be confirmed via letter from the service provider or 12 months billing statements

    NOTE: Alternative sources of credit must be obtained from a Canadian source.

* Genworth will no longer require the lender to submit the documentation upfront on every file, but may request that the lender provide a copy on a case-by-case basis.

** Letter from landlord must indicate the following: name of tenant, monthly rent, length of tenancy, payment history. Bank statements must support the amount of rent and timeliness of payments outlined in the letter.


Note: This program is not available to Diplomats or any other foreign political appointed individuals who do not pay income tax in Canada.

Portability

  • Our mortgage default insurance is portable, so buyers can take advantage of a lender's portability plan. Refer to Portability Feature Product Overview for further details.

Assumptions/Assignments

  • Mortgage is assumable subject to meeting lender guidelines.

Eligible Products **

  • Homebuyer 95 (max 2 units)
  • Purchase Plus Improvements

** For specific underwriting guidelines related to the above eligible products, please refer to the applicable product overview

Ineligible Products

  • Alt A
  • Cashback Equity
  • Cash-Out Refinance
  • Family Plan
  • Insured Progress Advance
  • Vacation/Secondary Homes

The insurance premium is payable once at the time of closing.  The insurance premium is not refundable and may be added onto the mortgage or paid in cash.