《TAIPEI TIMES》Subsidies for first-time home buyers announced

By Crystal Hsu / Staff reporter

The Cabinet yesterday gave the go-ahead to a Ministry of Finance proposal for preferential interest rates for first-home purchases to support housing justice, ahead of a rally planned on Sunday to protest housing unaffordability.

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Those who have not previously owned a home and do not have children who are homeowners would be able to apply for the three-year preferential interest rate of 1.775 percent and borrow up to NT$10 million （US$321,688）, up from the previous NT$8 million, the ministry said.

The grace period in which borrowers only have to make payments on interest, and not on the principal, has also been extended from three years to five years, it said.

The package was announced after the government raised the cap on taxes for multiple home ownership from 3.6 percent to 4.8 percent to help curb hoarding, a practice widely blamed for fueling price increases.

The preferential loans are expected to benefit 58,000 buyers, and cost the government and state-run lenders NT$5 billion, Deputy Minister of Finance Frank Juan （阮清華） told reporters, adding that the figures might be higher depending on how many loans are approved.

State-run Bank of Taiwan （臺灣銀行）, Land Bank of Taiwan （臺灣土地銀行）, Taiwan Cooperative Bank （合作金庫商業銀行）, First Commercial Bank （第一商業銀行）, Hua Nan Commercial Bank （華南商業銀行） and Chang Hwa Commercial Bank （彰化商業銀行） would offer loans of up to 40 years, and absorb interest losses of 12.5 basis points, Juan said.

The government would bear the remaining cost of 25 basis points using its housing fund, he said.

That is the lowest borrowing cost available, as interest rates for standard mortgages are 2.03 percent, he said.

The favorable lending terms aim to lower the thresholds for young people to buy their own home, Juan said.

However, while it is called a purchasing subsidy for young people, there is no age limit to apply.

Housing unaffordability has been a top complaint and civic groups are organizing a rally in front of the Presidential Office Building to vent their displeasure.

The government has since 2010 introduced preferential interest rates to help people buy homes, benefiting 340,000 people, Juan said, adding that a considerable number have paid their debts.

The preferential interest rates would take effect on Aug. 1 and run through July 31, 2026, the ministry said.

H&B Realty Co （住商不動產） said the package would help invigorate the property market, which has slowed following five interest rate hikes by the central bank to tame inflation.

Still, buyers need to exercise careful financial planning, as the interest subsidy would only last for three years, it said.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES