Housing loans hit lowest level since February 2018

  • ECO News
  • 12 March 2019

In the first month of 2019, banks lent €747 million for home purchases. It is the lowest value observed since February 2018.

In the first month of 2019, banks made available 747 million euros in loans for home purchases. It was the lowest value observed since February 2018. In year-on-year terms, the trend, however, is rising.

The statistics released by the Bank of Portugal this Tuesday show that banks granted 747 million euros in loans for home purchase, a figure that corresponds to a decrease of €156 million compared to the €903 million made available in December.

There is thus a reversal of the previous trend, after three consecutive months of increases in the availability of loans for house purchases. Importantly, it should be noted that the month of January is a period traditionally marked by a slowdown in lending.