Some $100 million directed to mortgage lending in Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijan Mortgage Fund (AMF) under the Central Bank delivered loans amounting to 73.69 million manat in January-July 2013, or 87.65 percent more than the volume of financing in the same period of 2012.
The fund reported that mortgage loans worth more than 493.92 million manat were delivered in 2006-2012 through the AMF (74.77 million manat - in 2012, 95.64 million manat - in 2011, 97.08 million manat - in 2010, 76.9 million manat - in 2009, 70.2 million manat - in 2007, 5.6 million manat - in 2006).
As of January-July 2013, the total amount of loan refinancing delivered by the banks earlier hit 42.03 million manat.
The AMF has placed bonds to the sum of 34 million manat since early 2013. The funds from placing the bonds are spent to finance the conventional mortgage.
The remaining 20 million manat out of 40 million manat envisaged for the social mortgage in the state budget-2013 were transferred to the AMF in July.
Around 72 per cent of the total volume of given loans (39 per cent of borrowers aged 18-29, 33 per cent - 30-35 years old) fell to young people and families. Around 28 per cent of the loans fell to borrowers older than 36 years old.
Currently, the maximum amount of a common mortgage loan through the AMF is 50,000 manat at a rate of eight per cent with a payback period of 25 years. Terms under the social mortgage are 50,000 manat at an annual rate of four per cent with a payback period of 30 years. The initial payment under the social mortgage is 15 per cent, whilst the conventional loan is 20 per cent.
Conditions of mortgage lending are as follows: loans must be issued in Azerbaijani manats and only to Azerbaijani citizens and the mortgage can only be for an apartment or private house. The volume of mortgage lending must not exceed 80 per cent of the market price and the monthly payment must not exceed 70 per cent of the debtor's monthly income. It is compulsory to take out an agreement on life insurance.
Preferential conditions are granted to family members of war victims, national heroes, internally displaced persons, civil servants with at least a three years' experience, PhDs, those making special contributions to sport as well as to the military with at least a three-year service term. Each family having the right to such a mortgage can only use the opportunity once.
There are 28 authorised banks belonging to the Mortgage Fund, 21 insurance companies and 11 appraisal organisations, all being participants of the mortgage market.