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Mortgage insurance premiums are going up in Canada, but the rise is not expected to alter the dynamics in the real estate market in a material way. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) made the announcement last Friday after completing its annual review of insurance products and capital requirements.

Mortgage insurance premiums for homes or rental properties that comprise one to four units will increase by about 15 percent on average across the entire range of loan-to-value (LTV) ratios.

For example, for LTV ratios of up to 60 percent, the premium rises 10 percent; for LTV ratios of up to 95 percent, the premium rises 40 percent.

The LTV ratio is the amount of the mortgage loan as a percentage of the appraised value of the property, and is used by lenders to assess their lending risk before approving a mortgage.

A higher ratio is generally seen as higher risk; therefore, if the mortgage is approved, the loan will typically be given at a higher interest rate.

In Canada, mortgage insurance...

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