What kind of down payment do you need to buy a condo in 2025?

You’ve made the important decision to purchase a condo, but you’re wondering how much money you’ll need to make this dream a reality and whether it’s a good time to invest. 

From interest rates and mortgage loans to insurance and financing options, there are many solutions available to you. We’ll break everything down for you, including what you need to consider in 2025 to calculate your investment. 

Interest rates on the downswing

Over the past 7 months, interest rates have already gone down 5 consecutive times, resulting in a skyrocketing number of residential transactions since the end of 2024 and a 52% increase year over year. With even more favourable financing conditions expected for 2025, including additional rate cuts by the Bank of Canada, economists agree that 2025 is shaping up to be a great year to buy. 

The benchmark interest rate is currently set at 3.25%, compared with 5% at the same time last year. Eighty-five percent of borrowers are scheduled to renew their mortgage that were signed while the Bank of Canada’s rate was at or below 1%. Once their mortgage is renewed at a significantly higher interest rate, many owners will be forced to reconsider their lifestyle or even sell their property. Consequently, if all unfolds as forecasted, we can anticipate listings (and thus, supply) to increase. That is indeed good news for prospective buyers! In fact, as of January 1, 2025, the number of resale homes on the market (36,230) is already 14% higher than it was a year earlier. 

Can we expect very low interest rates again?

Economists are still anticipating the benchmark interest rate to drop a few times over the coming months, but these reductions will not be sudden and will not cause major disruptions to the Canadian economy. Global forecasts expect the benchmark interest rate to sit around 2.25% by the end of 2025. So, if you are waiting to invest in the hopes of a radical rate drop, it’s unlikely to happen. 

Eligibility for a 30-year mortgage for all first-time homebuyers

As of December 15, the federal government has adjusted the rules for insurable mortgages to make it easier to purchase a first residential property. First-time homebuyers purchasing an existing property or a new build are now eligible for mortgages amortized over 30 years. This measure will soon be extended to all homebuyers of newly constructed primary residences, regardless of whether it is their first residential purchase or not. This is not a trivial measure, as it allows buyers to significantly reduce their monthly payment. 

The impact of Donald Trump’s election on the Canadian economy

As many may already have noticed, the Canadian economy is likely to feel the effects of Donald Trump’s arrival at the White House and the implementation of new trade policies. 

As a result, buying now is a good idea: you can take advantage of the relatively low benchmark rate in place, and sign a fixed-rate 5-year mortgage to safeguard against potential rate fluctuations and keep your payments stable for the entire period. Market fluctuations could arise should the new president implement some of his promises, such as imposing higher tariffs on Canada. 

Minimum down payment required

While the amount of a down payment can vary greatly, to qualify for a mortgage, you need to have at least 5% of the total condo price. 

If your down payment is between 5% and 20%, you will need to pay for mortgage loan insurance. This will allow you to access a mortgage that covers up to 95% of the condo’s price. 

On the other hand, if your down payment covers 20% or more of the property price, you do not need insurance. Note, however, that if the price of the condo you wish to purchase exceeds $500,000, you will need a minimum down payment of 10%. 

How much does mortgage loan insurance cost?

Mortgage loan insurance protects the lender in case you default on your payment. It does not protect you. Mortgage loan insurance is sometimes referred to as mortgage default insurance, and payments are called premiums. Mortgage loan insurance premiums range from 0.6% to 4.5% of your mortgage amount and vary based on the amount of your down payment. The higher your down payment, the lower your mortgage loan insurance premiums will be. 

Is it better to buy now or continue saving and buy later?

Buying now at 5%

If you choose to purchase your condo now with a 5% down payment, you need to calculate your insurance costs and remaining mortgage amount after 5 years. 

The benefit is that you can enjoy your condo immediately and settle into your home. And, with real estate prices continuing to rise, you will probably pay less for your condo today than you would in a few years. 

Continuing to save and buying in 5 years with 20%

If you choose to continue saving your money so you can buy with a 20% down payment in five years, you will not have to pay for mortgage insurance costs, which can quickly add up. 

Keep in mind, however, that condo prices will continue to rise over the next five years, and, as a result, once you are ready to purchase, overall property prices will have increased.

How can I put enough money aside to qualify for a mortgage?

Several options are available to you: 

Leverage your RRSP

Have you invested funds in an RRSP? If so, did you know that you can use them to purchase your new condo? In fact, you can now withdraw up to $60,000 from your RRSP (rather than $35,000 for the purchase of a first property). That means that couples can withdraw up to $120,000. 

You can use these funds as part of your down payment or to help you cover other expenses, such as moving costs or legal fees. 

Keep in mind, however, that you must repay the full amount into your RRSP within 15 years if you want to avoid penalties. 

Save money monthly

Once you have calculated your monthly mortgage amount, you will be able to figure out how much to save to accumulate a big enough down payment. You can then choose to have this amount automatically deducted from your account every month. 

If you find it challenging to save, you might want to consider automatic withdrawals. This way, every month, the amount you have decided to save will be automatically transferred to your savings before you can spend it on something else.   

Looking to buy a condo?

Explore the Baldwin Condos & Penthouses project, located near Dollard-des-Ormeaux’s future REM station. The project offers new, spacious and bright units that provide total comfort in a pleasant environment. 

For more information, feel free to contact us at 514 316-8003. Our experts would be happy to answer all your questions and assist you. 

 

Sources: 

https://www.bankofcanada.ca/core-functions/monetary-policy/key-interest-rate/
https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/01/13/immobilier-retour-des-acheteurs-et-possible-flambee-des-prix-pour-2025
https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/economie/2025-01-05/peut-on-rever-a-des-taux-d-interet-tres-bas-en-2025.php?sharing=true
https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/mortgages/down-payment.html