Ottawa to expand 30-year amortizations, raise insured mortgage cap

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced proposals Monday to expand the availability of 30-year amortizations and to raise the price cap for insured mortgages.

The Liberal government on Monday announced proposed changes to the Canadian mortgage market, expanding the availability of 30-year amortizations and raising the cap on insured mortgage products.

First-time homebuyers, as well as those purchasing new builds, will soon be able to take out mortgages with a 30-year amortization, up from the typical 25-year payback period.

Additionally, the Liberals are raising the price cap for taking out insured mortgages to $1.5 million compared with the previous bar of $1 million.

Both proposed changes would go into effect on Dec. 15.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland made the announcements on Monday in Ottawa where members of Parliament are reconvening for the start of the fall sitting in the House of Commons.

She positioned the changes as helping Canadians to afford a first home.

Extending amortizations helps to reduce the monthly burden of carrying a mortgage, though a homeowner is likely to pay more in interest over the life of the loan.

Because households have to put down more than 20 per cent upfront when purchasing a home with an uninsured mortgage, the current price cap for insured mortgages creates a significant barrier for Canadians looking to purchase a property worth more than $1 million.