07/09/2026
This myth is keeping more Canadians out of the market than rising rates ever have. Let's fix that.
β Myth: You need 20% down to buy a home.
β
Reality: In Canada, you can buy with as little as 5% down.
Here's how the minimum down payment actually breaks down:
- Homes up to $500,000 β minimum 5% down
- Homes $500Kβ$999,999 β 5% on the first $500K + 10% on the remainder
- Homes $1Mβ$1.5M β minimum 10% down (expanded under recent federal mortgage reforms)
- Homes over $1.5M β minimum 20% down
If your down payment is under 20%, you'll need mortgage default insurance, but that doesn't mean you're paying more forever. It means you get into the market sooner, start building equity sooner, and stop paying someone else's mortgage.
Many Canadians are sitting on the sidelines saving for 20% when they could already be homeowners.
π© Let's look at your actual numbers, you might be closer than you think.