The way to the residential building loan – Diepresse.com

With the interest reduction cycle of the ECB have also improved the financing options for real estate buyers. In short: newly awarded loans have become cheaper. Housing loans with fixed interest binding currently cost an average of between 3.3 and 3.8 percent. With 3.3 to 3.6 percent, you have to pay an average of variable interest agreements with 3.3 to 3.6 percent.

T The expected further decline in key interest rates should continue to be more favorable, according to financing experts. However, long -term fixed interest rates could increase. The background: Many banks have not yet fully adapted their conditions to the current interest rate environment. « For borrowers, this means that they should use the currently moderate fixed interest rates to secure themselves against potentially rising interest rates in the future, » says Christoph Kirchmair, founder and managing director of Infina.

Tender plants demand

In any case, the decline in financing costs has had a positive impact on the allocation of new residential loans. As was recently found by the OENB, the volume in the second half of 2024 was 6.2 billion euros above the same period last year (4.9 billion euros). In the fourth quarter of 2024, the new business volume for housing loans to private households was 27 percent above that of the past three months from 2023. In January 2025, even by almost 50 percent above the same month. Nevertheless, the new business volume in 2024 was no more than around half of the level of 2022.

And the banks also hear that interest returns. There can be no talk of a run on residential loans. Manuel Tauchner, member of the management of the Financing Consulting Real Finance, speaks of a « delicate plant ». « For a few weeks now, not least through positive news, it has been more demand. »

« For borrowers, this means that they should use the currently still moderate fixed interest rates to secure themselves against potentially rising interest rates in the future. »

Christoph Kirchmair

Founder and managing director of Infina

Keyword positive news: At the end of June, the less beloved KIM regulation will expire, which will make many main responsibilities for the break-in of the real estate market from 2022. « Your influence remains, » says Kirchmair. The banks would continue to be based on the previous awarding standards. « Not least because of the new quarterly reporting obligation, » says the Infina boss.

When lending, the institutes will pay attention to an equity ratio of around 20 percent, a loan term of a maximum of 35 years and a debt ratio of around 40 percent. « It will be new that the banks no longer have to document borderline cases in the exceptional accounting and can therefore again decide more independently and easier, » explains Tauchner. « That alone can lead people to deal with a real estate purchase again. »

More discussions, more documents

« Overall, lending is more restrictive than three years ago, » continued Tauchner. If you want to see for a financing, you have to do more effort, have more discussions and present more documents. However, the prospective buyer should not discourage the prospective buyer. Because with the right preparation and advice, the chances of success would be quite good.

« If you cannot bring in 20 percent of your own funds, you can also bring in another property as a replacement – such as the parent -free condominium of the parents. »

Manuel Tauchner

Member of the management of the Financing Consulting Real Finance

Kirchmair hits the same notch. « If you can apply around 20 percent of the purchase price plus your own funds, you usually have very good chances of financing, » he says. His recommendation: compare as many offers as possible. Suitable financing concepts could often be developed, even if not all requirements were met at first glance. « If you cannot bring in 20 percent of your own funds, you can also bring in another property as a replacement – such as the parent -free condominium of the parents, » says Tauchner.

Fixed interest tends to be better

As far as the question of fixed or variable interest agreement is concerned, credit products with fixed interest rates are « tend to » better. « In historical review, the current offers are between three and four percent, and thus in a fair setting, with which you were usually well traveling, » says Tauchner.

For Kirchmair, a moderate surcharge of up to one percentage point per year can be economically useful for long -term interest rate security. « In return, you get planning security. » It obviously sees the majority of the Austrians similar. According to the OENB, almost 90 percent of residential creditors decided in the previous year for the more expensive fixed interest binding.

Ultimately, the decision depends on the needs of the real estate buyer. If larger special repayments are planned, a variable interest rate could be more advantageous. It is also possible to combine both variants.