Mortgage loans in Luxembourg: dramatic rise in interest rates and housing crisis
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Rudolphe ABEN
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The beginning of the year has seen a new rise in interest rates on mortgages in Luxembourg. According to the latest balance sheet published by the Luxembourg central bank, the variable rate for mortgages rose sharply to 3.51% in January, compared with 2.58% in December.
This increase marks a return to the level of the fixed rate, which had risen much faster throughout the year. Since the beginning of this year, the rise has slowed to 3.58%. However, given BCL's method of calculation, interest rates for very long periods, such as 30 years, can be “significantly higher”, the report says.
Over one year, the rise in mortgage rates is spectacular: in January 2022, they were only 1.3% for the variable rate and 1.42% for the fixed rate. This increase in interest rates is in addition to the level reached by house prices, which is putting many residents out of reach of the property dream.
This situation is all the more worrying as the increase in interest rates is not the only factor affecting the property market. In fact, the Luxembourg property market has been experiencing a shortage of housing for several years, which has led to a steady increase in prices. This price increase, combined with high interest rates, is making it increasingly difficult for Luxembourg households to buy a home.
As a result, some residents are forced to leave the country in search of more affordable housing. This situation is regrettable and demonstrates the urgent need for the Luxembourg authorities to adopt effective public policies to address the housing crisis.