Canadian CMHC MLI Select calculator
MLI Select rewards energy, accessibility, and affordability with points. More points mean a lower down payment, a lower DSCR bar, and up to a 40-year amortisation. Estimate your points tier here.
MLI Select is one path. BrickROI runs them all.
This is an estimate. BrickROI runs the full MLI Select path next to the conventional path on your real deal: the points, the premium, the 40-year amortisation, the DSCR at 1.10, and a lender-ready PDF. Paste a Canadian listing and see which path wins in two minutes.
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How MLI Select scoring works in Canada
MLI Select is for multi-unit residential of five units or more. CMHC gives you points in three areas: energy efficiency, accessibility, and affordability. You add the points up. The total decides which tier you land in, and the tier decides your terms.
The math is simple, but the inputs are not. Energy points come from a verified energy model against the current building or a reference baseline. Accessibility points come from real features like barrier-free units. Affordability points come from a written commitment to hold rents below a set level for ten years or more. Each one is a promise CMHC checks, not a box you tick.
Why the tier matters so much
At 50 points you reach a higher loan-to-value than a conventional purchase. At 100 points you can reach up to 95% loan-to-value and a 40-year amortisation. A longer amortisation lowers your monthly payment, which lifts your cash flow and your DSCR at the same time. A Calgary investor on a forum warned that CMHC premiums "can easily add $10k+ to your numbers," so the premium is real, but the lower payment and lower down payment often pay it back.
What to confirm before you trust the points
- Energy points usually need a verified model, not a guess. Budget for the energy consultant.
- Affordability points lock your rents for years. Make sure the held-down rent still cash flows.
- The DSCR bar drops to 1.10 under MLI Select, but the lender still tests it. Use a real mortgage payment at the 40-year path.
CMHC MLI Select questions
What is CMHC MLI Select?
MLI Select is CMHC's points-based insurance program for multi-unit residential, five units or more. You earn points for energy efficiency, accessibility, and affordability. More points mean a lower DSCR requirement, a higher loan-to-value, and up to a 40-year amortisation.
How many points do I need?
The tiers start at 50, 70, and 100 points. Fifty points gets you started. At one hundred points you reach the best terms: up to 95% loan-to-value and a 40-year amortisation. Each tier improves either your down payment, your DSCR bar, or your amortisation length.
Does MLI Select lower my DSCR requirement?
Yes. A conventional lender wants a DSCR near 1.20. Under MLI Select, the threshold drops to 1.10. That lower bar is what turns some thin multi-unit deals into deals that qualify.
Is this calculator the full CMHC application?
No. This is an estimate to help you see if a deal is worth pursuing. The real points come from energy models, accessibility audits, and affordability commitments that CMHC reviews. BrickROI runs the full path so you walk into the lender meeting ready.