Beneficiaries of the First Home program ask for government support
In a petition addressed to the government, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the program participants ask for partial compensation for monthly payments under the First Home state program due to a significant increase in payments under this program due to the increase in interest rates from July 1 - in many cases, the increase will be thousands of lei per month. "The First Home program was created as a support measure for young people who want to have their own home, but such a sudden and disproportionate increase in expenses risks turning this opportunity into an unbearable financial burden. Most of the beneficiaries are young people, families who are just starting out, with a modest income and growing responsibilities. The increase in rates against the backdrop of inflation significantly reduces their solvency and economic stability. Without temporary support, many risk facing serious financial difficulties or even being unable to pay for their housing,” the petition says. The program participants are demanding the creation of a temporary mechanism to compensate for part of the monthly payment (e.g. 30–50%) over the next 12 months for those affected by the interest rate increase, as well as the establishment of a maximum interest rate cap or a fixed rate for the transition period (e.g. 12–24 months). In addition, it is proposed to change the methodology for calculating the variable interest rate so that future increases are more gradual and predictable, and the consequences are bearable for beneficiaries. In order to find long-term sustainable solutions, it is proposed to initiate a public dialogue. The petition has so far been signed by more than 200 people. It is worth noting that the mortgage interest rate for the First Home (Prima casă) loan is floating and takes into account the base rate and the bank margin. The base rate is calculated as a weighted average of interest rates on new deposits in Moldovan lei with a term of 6 to 12 months and is updated every six months. Thus, for loans issued under the program, according to the decision of the National Bank, starting from July 1, the base rate will be 5.82% (currently - 3.7%). Accordingly, the interest rate on a loan issued under the First Home program will increase. Experts explain the increase in the rate by the recent high inflation, which forced the NBM to pursue a stricter monetary policy, and this, in turn, led to an increase in the cost of loans in the economy. According to calculations by expert Stas Madan (Expert-Grup), for a family with a loan of 1 million lei for 25 years, the loan rate will increase from 6.9% to 9.02%. Accordingly, if previously the monthly payment was about 7 thousand lei, then from July it will increase to about 8.4 thousand lei. At the same time, the expert emphasizes that inflation is declining, and most likely, in the first half of 2026, mortgage rates will begin to decrease again. // 24.06.2025 — InfoMarket.
