Mortgage comes to life: The NBU has developed a new lending strategy for the eHouse program
25 August 21:57
To restart market mortgages, the NBU, together with other government institutions, has developed a Mortgage Development Strategy that includes improvements to the eHouse program. This was stated by Pervin Dadashova, Director of the NBU’s Financial Stability Department, in an interview with Forbes Ukraine, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
She emphasized that affordable mortgages are one of the key factors in the development of not only the real estate market but also many related sectors of the economy, including construction, building materials, furniture, logistics, and banking services. However, mortgage lending is not yet widespread in Ukraine.
According to Dadashova, more than 95% of mortgages are currently issued through government programs, such as eOselya. The product is in demand among certain categories of citizens, but is limited in terms of funding.
Mass mortgage lending is not yet our reality. Without the development of market mortgages, we will not be able to restart housing construction at full capacity,” said the director of the NBU’s Financial Stability Department.
New strategy from the NBU: key areas of focus
To address the problem, the National Bank of Ukraine, in cooperation with other government agencies, has developed a Mortgage Development Strategy. The strategy provides for
- improving the eHouse program (in particular, expanding the list of categories that can use it)
- encouraging commercial banks to participate in market mortgage lending;
- reducing risks in the area of construction in progress.
One of the important tools may be escrow accounts, which guarantee the protection of the buyer’s funds until the completion of construction. The possibility of involving other developers in the completion of the project in case of problems with the original developer is also being discussed.
War and insurance: how hostilities affect the rate
In the context of martial law, banks and developers are increasingly raising the issue of war risk insurance. According to the NBU, insurance products should not significantly increase the cost of mortgage loans, as the cost of insurance is relatively low, and the state still assumes partial compensation for interest.
Time to reconsider the moratorium
Another barrier to the development of mortgages is the moratorium on foreclosures during the war. According to Dadashova, some of its provisions are justified in the context of hostilities, but some provisions, on the contrary, slow down the development of lending.
A balance is needed between borrower protection and the interests of banks. Without the ability to manage risks, lenders will not actively enter the market,” she emphasized.
The first stages of the new strategy are expected to begin by the end of 2025. However, a real breakthrough in the mortgage market requires increased access to finance, trust in the construction industry and clear rules of the game.
What is the eOselya program: basics, conditions and instructions for registration
The eHouse program, a state mortgage initiative, was launched by the Government of Ukraine to provide affordable housing for citizens. The program is implemented jointly by the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the State Housing Fund and has become an important tool to support the real estate industry and citizens during the difficult period of war.
Who can use the eHouse program
The program is available to Ukrainian citizens aged 18 to 70 who
- do not have their own housing or have an area of less than 52.5 m² 21 m² for each additional family member
- are solvent and can prove their income;
- do not participate in other state housing programs (with certain exceptions);
- are not included in the sanctions lists.
Types of mortgage rates for different categories of population
A preferential rate of 3% per annum is provided to the following categories:
- military personnel of the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies
- medical, pedagogical, research and teaching staff
- war veterans – under special conditions.
The usual 7% per annum rate is available:
- internally displaced persons;
- veterans, persons with disabilities caused by war, and families of the deceased;
- citizens who do not have housing or its area does not meet the standards.
Conditions for young people up to 25-26 years old:
- the minimum down payment is 10% (instead of 20%);
- for the first 10 years, a reduced rate (3% or 7%) applies, and from the 11th year, the rate increases to 6% or 10%, respectively.
Credit conditions of the eHouse program
- Loan term: up to 20 years.
- Down payment: from 20% of the cost of housing (or 10% for young people).
- Maximum loan amount: up to UAH 5 million.
- Additional payments: insurance (from 0.25% to 1.25%), bank commission (about 1%), notary services (~12 thousand UAH), housing appraisal (~3.5 thousand UAH).
- Housing: You can buy an apartment in the primary or secondary market, as well as at the construction stage.
- Mandatory territorial requirements: not older than 10 years, located on the territory of Ukraine (without the occupied zones), the area meets the norm of 52.5 m² 21 m² per family member.
Statistics of the state program eOselya
As of the beginning of 2025, more than 17,600 families have taken advantage of the program, and the total amount of loans issued exceeded UAH 30 billion. Ukrainians are most active in purchasing housing in Kyiv region, Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and Vinnytsia regions.
Mostly they buy apartments: the state has already issued 17,175 loans for this purpose, of which 10,656 people spent on secondary housing, 6,519 bought newly built housing, and 817 chose private houses or townhouses.
Дивіться нас у YouTube: важливі теми – без цензури
How to apply for a mortgage at eHouse
1. Open the Diia mobile application for administrative services and go to the eHouse section.
2. Fill out the application. You will need to enter your family’s data, income, selected housing, and bank.
3. Certify the application through Diia.Signature.
4. Receive a preliminary response from the banks (it will be provided within 24 hours).
5. If approved, then apply for a loan with a bank with a package of documents.
Читайте нас у Telegram: головні новини коротко
