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How Much Will CMHC Insurance Cost on Your Brampton Home?
Quick answer: If you put down less than 20% on a Brampton home, CMHC mortgage insurance is required. The premium is 2.80%–4.00% of your mortgage, and in Ontario you pay 8% tax on it at closing. Estimate yours below.
Buying in Brampton with less than 20% down? You’ll need mortgage default insurance (commonly called CMHC insurance). This calculator estimates your premium and the provincial tax you’ll owe at closing, so there are no surprises. Enter your price and down payment to see your numbers.
What CMHC insurance is – and when you need it
CMHC insurance protects the lender if a borrower defaults, but the buyer pays for it. It’s required on any Canadian mortgage with less than 20% down, and it’s what lets you buy with as little as 5%. The premium is a percentage of your mortgage amount and is usually added to your mortgage and paid off over time.
CMHC premium rates (2026)
| Down payment | Loan-to-value | Premium (% of mortgage) |
|---|---|---|
| 5% – 9.99% | 90.01% – 95% | 4.00% |
| 10% – 14.99% | 85.01% – 90% | 3.10% |
| 15% – 19.99% | 80.01% – 85% | 2.80% |
| 20% or more | 80% or less | No CMHC insurance required |
A 0.20% surcharge applies to 30-year amortizations (available to first-time buyers and new-build purchasers).
Example on a Brampton home
On a $700,000 home with 10% down ($70,000), your mortgage is $630,000. At the 3.10% rate that’s a premium of about $19,530, typically added to your mortgage. On top of that, Ontario charges 8% tax on the premium – about $1,562 due at closing (see below).
The Ontario tax most buyers forget
In Ontario you pay 8% provincial sales tax on the CMHC premium, and unlike the premium itself, this tax cannot be added to your mortgage – it’s due in cash at closing. Build it into your closing-cost budget.
Down payment rules & the $1.5M cap
- Minimum down: 5% on the first $500,000, 10% on the portion from $500,000 to $1,500,000.
- CMHC insurance is only available on homes priced under $1.5 million. Above that, you need 20% down and an uninsured mortgage.
How to reduce or avoid it
- Put down 20%+ to avoid the premium entirely.
- Move up a tier (e.g. 5% → 10%) to drop from 4.00% to 3.10%.
- Combine FHSA + RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan savings to reach a bigger down payment.
CMHC Insurance FAQ
Do I have to pay CMHC insurance in Brampton?
How much is CMHC insurance on a $700,000 home?
Can I avoid CMHC insurance?
Is CMHC insurance added to my mortgage?
Do I pay tax on CMHC insurance in Ontario?
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