What are the MLI Select requirements?

Typically five or more residential units, plus enough energy, affordability, and accessibility points for the tier you need. AssetAvenue only flags CMHC potential at the five-unit threshold.

Does a fourplex qualify for MLI Select?

No. A fourplex stays on conventional terms. Adding a legal fifth unit can open the insured path — an illegal or unfinished suite does not.

Does a high score on the desk mean CMHC will insure the loan?

No. The desk screens size and modeled debt terms. CMHC and the lender still score the building on energy, affordability, and accessibility.

Is the 2.8% premium cash at closing?

In our model the premium is financed into the loan. Your lender may treat it differently. Ask for the premium, whether it is financed, and the effect on LTV.

MLI Select requirements

MLI Select is CMHC-insured financing for five or more residential units. Size gets you in the door. Energy, affordability, and accessibility points decide the tier — and whether the leverage you modeled actually exists.

Unit count

MLI Select requirements start at five residential units. A duplex, triplex, or fourplex is underwritten on conventional residential terms in this desk. A single-family rental never uses MLI Select. If the fifth unit is not legal, finished, and rentable, you do not have a five-unit building.

Energy, affordability, and accessibility

CMHC scores the building on energy performance, the affordability of units, and accessibility. Missing the tier you modeled is the usual miss — the building can be the right size and still fail points. Confirm the current MLI Select grid with a commercial lender before you waive financing.

Leverage, amortization, and the premium

For screening we use up to 85–95% LTV, amortization as long as 40 years (50-year max in the model), and a financed insurance premium of about 2.8% of the base loan. Those figures change cash to close and DSCR at the qualifying rate. They are not a quote.

How it changes an offer

Insured leverage and a longer amortization can support a higher price than a 75% conventional stack at the same DSCR hurdle. Underwrite both stacks. If the deal only works on the insured path, treat MLI Select approval as a condition, not a given.

Questions

What are the MLI Select requirements?: Typically five or more residential units, plus enough energy, affordability, and accessibility points for the tier you need. AssetAvenue only flags CMHC potential at the five-unit threshold.
Does a fourplex qualify for MLI Select?: No. A fourplex stays on conventional terms. Adding a legal fifth unit can open the insured path — an illegal or unfinished suite does not.
Does a high score on the desk mean CMHC will insure the loan?: No. The desk screens size and modeled debt terms. CMHC and the lender still score the building on energy, affordability, and accessibility.
Is the 2.8% premium cash at closing?: In our model the premium is financed into the loan. Your lender may treat it differently. Ask for the premium, whether it is financed, and the effect on LTV.

Screen 5+ unit listings

Analysis for information only. Not lending, tax, legal, or investment advice. Confirm current CMHC and OSFI rules with a licensed advisor.