Automatic Partial Mortgage Loan Insurance + Reno Pilot

Automatic Partial Mortgage Loan Insurance for Single Family New BUILT GREEN® Homes

All single family new homes certified through Built Green Canada are automatically eligible for a partial mortgage loan insurance premium refund through both Genworth Canada and the Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Both CMHC’s and Genworth’s partial mortgage loan insurance refund is a savings of 15% for those with a BUILT GREEN® certified home. To take advantage of this offer, please contact our office to obtain your Building Certificate of Authenticity from Built Green Canada. Note: for the first time, BUILT GREEN® certified homes in and of themselves are eligible for these rebates (i.e. rebates don’t hinge on the ERS score).

For more information and links to both offers: mortgage-rebates.

Built Green Canada Renovation Program Pilot Launch

Coinciding with Renovation Month, the end of October marked Built Green Canada’s launch of its Renovation Program Pilot.

The changes announced last month surrounding Canada’s mortgage rules puts new limits on how much some buyers can afford. The impact of the new mortgage rules are indeterminate at this time; however, it is expected that lower priced homes will get a greater amount of interest, as buyers who could previously afford a more expensive home will be looking at a more affordably priced home, while others who may have been considering buying up will remain in the home they’re in and focus on upgrades.

This underscores the reality of Canada’s housing stock: new housing represents less than two per cent of the overall housing stock across the country. As Canadians and all orders of government are increasingly focused on the environmental agenda, there is huge opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen the economy through energy-efficient retrofits of older homes in Canada. A study by Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC) revealed that older homes are the source of exponentially more greenhouse gas emissions than newer homes.

“The BUILT GREEN® Renovation Program contemplates the scale of the renovation and its ability to impact greater energy efficiency,” says executive director Jenifer Christenson. “Should the renovation be small in scope, the impact is more difficult to quantify.” This has been an important consideration at this developmental phase, and the certification is based on the performance improvement of the home at the time of completion as compared to the home’s original performance.

There are three renovation types: whole house, renovation, and small home improvements. Each takes a holistic approach to sustainable building and maintains the same seven categories as Built Green’s Single Family and High Density programs: energy efficiency, materials & method, indoor air quality, ventilation, waste management, water conservation and business practices.  

My House Design/Build Team Ltd., a long-time builder with Built Green Canada, completed the first renovation under this pilot. “The renovation program offers the consistent, clear approach Built Green’s other programs have in terms of process, priority areas, and options available. We’re happy to be participating and offering input into the program at this stage,” says Mark Nowotny of My House Design/Build Team Ltd. Meanwhile, new renovator with Built Green Canada, A Cut Above Living, is nearing completion of their renovation under this pilot.

Built Green Canada welcomes industry’s continued input and trials during this pilot phase. The program is complementary to the leadership efforts of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s and CMHC’s “Get it in Writing” initiative.

For further information please contact the Built Green Canada office.