Buying a Home for Immediate Family

Luisa Hough • March 23, 2015

Buying a home for immediate family with less than 20% downpayment can be a challenge. However Genworth; a Canadian mortgage default insurance provider, has a program that benefits those families who haven’t been able to save a full down payment on their second family home.

Genworth Canada’s Family Plan enables people to assist family members in buying a home with as little as 5% down payment.

Sending a child off to university can be tough both emotionally and financially. In addition to the rising cost of tuition, students and parents often face the high costs of renting. Today I’d like to share a story of how one family was able secure housing for their daughter while building equity at the same time.

Charles and Catherine Turner were thrilled and very proud when their daughter Alison was accepted to university. They’d been waiting anxiously for the acceptance letter to her preferred school and by the time it arrived, they were unable to secure a spot in residence. Their search to find a suitable location that was safe, close to the campus and with reasonable rent was also proving to be very difficult.

Catherine then recalled a conversation they’d had with their lender when she and Charles were reviewing their plans for Alison’s  post-secondary education. He’d mentioned a program from Genworth Canada called Family Plan, which sounded like it might help.

Genworth Canada’sFamily Plan program makes it possible for an immediate family member to assist in the purchase of a home for borrowers with good credit but inadequate income to meet standard qualifying requirements.

Under this program, Charles and Catherine purchased a home for Alison to live in throughout university and they were able to do so with only a five per cent down payment.  The quality of the real estate coupled with the Turner family’s excellent credit history, enabled them to meet the acceptable guidelines, despite Alison’s lack of income while she focuses on her education.

In the end, Charles and Catherine got more than a home for their daughter. They found a perfect solution to their dilemma… and got peace of mind at the same time.

Genworth Canada’s Family Plan opened the door to homeownership for Alison. The Turners were able to purchase a property with a small down payment, while providing a safe home for their daughter in close proximity to the university!

Know your options and ask your mortgage professional (me) how Genworth Canada can help you realize the dream of homeownership sooner.

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By Luisa & Candice Mortgages • April 8, 2026
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Luisa & Candice Mortgages 

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