Monday, 17 August 2026
Nearly one in five Czechs currently has a mortgage, while a similar proportion expects to take out a home loan in the coming years, according to a new survey conducted by the Czech Banking Association (CBA) and Ipsos.
The research found that 18% of respondents currently hold a mortgage and a further 19% plan to apply for one in the future. Most borrowers use mortgage financing to purchase their primary residence, while a smaller share finance investment properties or housing for family members.
The survey suggests that demand for homeownership remains resilient despite rising property prices. Although many households continue to face affordability challenges, the proportion of people who have postponed plans to purchase a home has fallen compared with the previous year.
Respondents planning to take out a mortgage indicated an average loan requirement of CZK 3.16 million, an increase of more than CZK 500,000 compared with last year’s survey. More than a quarter of prospective borrowers expect they will need financing exceeding CZK 4 million.
The findings also highlight the growing financial burden associated with homeownership. Four out of ten households with a mortgage spend more than one quarter of their monthly net income on repayments, while almost one-third allocate at least 30% of their income to servicing housing debt.
Future borrowers appear prepared for similar commitments. According to the survey, around one-third of prospective applicants expect mortgage repayments to consume more than 40% of household income.
Most respondents planning to purchase property believe housing prices will continue rising over the next two years. This expectation is contributing to ongoing demand despite affordability concerns and elevated borrowing costs.
Survey data also indicates that family support is becoming increasingly important in helping younger buyers enter the housing market. Around one-third of future mortgage applicants expect financial assistance from a partner, parents or other family members. At the same time, inherited property is playing a larger role in housing ownership, with the share of respondents who acquired housing through inheritance increasing over recent years.
The broader mortgage market remains active. According to the latest CBA Hypomonitor data, banks and building societies provided CZK 52.6 billion in mortgage loans during May. While activity eased slightly compared with April, lending volumes remained substantially higher than a year earlier.
The average newly issued mortgage reached CZK 4.84 million in May, significantly above the average amount anticipated by prospective borrowers in the survey. This gap suggests many households may still underestimate the financial requirements associated with purchasing property in today’s market.
Housing prices continue to rise across the country. According to the ČSOB Housing Index, apartment prices increased by 12.5% year-on-year during the first quarter of 2026, while family house prices rose by 9.1%. Although growth has moderated compared with previous periods, housing values continue to outpace inflation and remain a key factor influencing purchasing decisions.
The survey results point to a housing market where demand remains strong despite affordability pressures. Expectations of further price growth, combined with limited housing supply and a continuing preference for homeownership, are encouraging many households to remain active in the market even as borrowing costs remain above the levels seen in previous years.
Source: CTK
