 |
In a bold move Canadian underwriter, CMHC (Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation) has announced it will now allow 100% of rental income generated by legally registered suites. Here is the initial breakdown on using this type of rental income:
- The property must be owner-occupied.
- The property being insured can have only two units (i.e., a duplex or a single home with a legal secondary suite).
- Rental income cannot be used if the suite is “illegal/non-conforming” but “legal non-conforming” is okay. (Non-conforming means that the suite was grandfathered in before zoning/regulations restricted such units. You can check with the city to confirm if a suite is legal.)
- The suite must be self-contained with its own entrance.
- Property taxes and heat must be factored into the borrower’s debt ratios (which is currently not the case when using rent from legal secondary suites).
- For existing units, there must be two-year history of rental income from the suite. The maximum rental income allowed for qualification is a two-year average of the unit’s rent.
- For new units, a market rent appraisal can be accepted if an appropriate vacancy rate has been applied to the estimated rental income.
- Mortgage applicants must “demonstrate a strong history of managing credit” with a minimum credit score of 680.
For more on this new CMHC initiative please visit: Canadian Mortgage Trends
If you are looking for a referral to a terrific local Okanagan based Mortgage Broker please call or text Jason Neumann of RE/MAX Kelowna at 250.808.7700
Dependably Yours,
Jason Neumann
