Mortgage insurers have statistical evidence that people who buy homes with energy-saving components present a lower risk of default, and Genworth Mortgage Insurance is determined to reward those homeowners by incorporating that knowledge into its underwriting procedures, syndicated housing columnist Ken Harney reports.

Genworth already offers Canadian buyers a 10 percent “energy-efficient refund” on their premiums, and more leeway on debt-to-income ratio calculations used in underwriting.

On a $300,000 mortgage with a 5 percent down payment, Canadian homeowners can qualify for an $825 refund, and have savings on heating bills factored into debt service ratios. Source: courant.com.

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