The total volume of housing loans granted to households reached almost RON 30 billion (around €6 billion), a 32% increase from the first half of 2024, according to the National Bank of Romania (BNR).
New mortgage loans accounted for up to 40% of the total loans granted by banks, totalling approximately RON 10.7 billion (around €2.1 billion) in H1 2025, a 24% increase from 2024.
This growth was sustained by a favourable lending market, despite successive economic shocks. A notable decision that accelerated transactions in July was the announcement of an increase in the VAT rate for homes to 21%, which stimulated demand for financing.
Dan Niculae, CEO of Imobiliare.ro Finance, said: "For the autumn, we forecast a moderation in lending demand, without a collapse of the market or a drop in house prices."
An analysis of loans brokered by Imobiliare.ro Finance shows that Romanians accessed significantly larger mortgages. The average value of a mortgage loan increased nationally, with residents of Cluj securing the largest loans, averaging RON 452,790 (about €89,250), almost 17% more than last year.
The average value also rose in other cities, such as Brașov, where it reached RON 398,537 (€78,555), and Iași, where it hit RON 332,558 (€65,550). Similarly, loans secured by residents of Bucharest had an average value of RON 379,485 (€74,790), while those in Timișoara accessed an average sum of RON 354,791 (€69,930).
Regarding monthly installments, residents of Cluj pay the highest average rate, at RON 2,467. Brașov and Bucharest follow, with average rates of RON 2,213 and RON 2,074, respectively. At the opposite end, residents of Timișoara and Iași pay the lowest rates, under RON 2,000 per month.
