If you’re planning to buy a home in Canada, here’s something that could help your budget and help the planet: CMHC Eco Plus. This is a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) incentive that offers a 25% refund on your mortgage loan insurance premium when you purchase a new energy-efficient home.
This means if you’re buying a new home that meets certain energy efficiency standards, CMHC wants to reward your smart decision by giving you money back. It’s part of a bigger move to support more environmentally friendly housing across the country.
Buying a home is one of the biggest financial moves you’ll ever make. So why not make it one that benefits both your wallet and the world around you?
An energy-efficient home:
With CMHC Eco Plus, the savings go beyond monthly bills. You’ll also get 25% back on your mortgage loan insurance premium if you qualify.
Starting July 8, 2025, the Eco Plus program is being updated to focus only on newly built homes. These homes must have:
CMHC is shifting the program to encourage higher standards in new construction. So if you’re buying a new condo unit or house, this could be a perfect fit for you.
For condos, “newly built” means the unit must not have been lived in unless it was briefly occupied by the borrower before final legal steps were completed.
This change also makes the application process easier and more consistent for everyone.
If you’re buying an older home and plan to make energy upgrades (like new windows, insulation, or solar panels), there’s good news: CMHC Eco Improvement still applies. You can still get the same 25% partial premium refund when you make qualifying retrofits.
This keeps the door open for people who want to improve an existing property instead of buying brand new.
To be eligible, your home must:
Qualifying homes must also meet energy efficiency criteria that match or exceed what’s set out by Natural Resources Canada’s EnerGuide Rating System (ERS).
EnerGuide is a government-backed energy rating system that scores how energy-efficient a home is. A higher rating means your home uses less energy and performs better overall. CMHC uses this system to determine whether your home meets the requirements for Eco Plus.
You’ll need to provide proof of this rating or a qualifying certification when applying for the refund.
CMHC mortgage insurance premiums can range from 2.8% to over 4% of your mortgage loan, depending on your down payment. For example:
That’s money you can use for upgrades, furnishings, or to build your savings.
If your home qualifies under the new Eco Plus rules, here’s what you need to do:
CMHC will process your refund once everything checks out.
Absolutely. If you’re already considering a newly built home, this is an easy way to save money upfront while making a positive environmental impact.
The CMHC Eco Plus program supports:
It’s a win-win situation.
At FindlayRealEstate.ca, we help buyers in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond make informed, smart choices.
If you’re thinking about buying a new home and want to take advantage of the CMHC Eco Plus refund, reach out to us today. We’ll guide you through the process and help you find homes that qualify.
👉 Call us, book a consultation, or browse newly built homes on our website.
CMHC Eco Plus is more than a refund—it’s a future-focused incentive for smarter homeownership.
This article was created for educational purposes. For full program details and official application forms, visit the CMHC website.
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