Loan in Spain completions
Implementation of new Spanish rules, added paperwork requirements for lenders. And clients. Also confusion around what is required and when. Registered loan completions in Spain continue to make their way to registration at land registry.
It will be interesting to see what impact on June and Julys figures the changes have. As the mortgage in Spain figures issued by the INE in Spain relate to registrations in the month. Rather than signed loans. So any reductions caused will not show up until July and even August figures.
May loan data
For registered loan completions Spain in May the average Spanish loan size dipped slightly on April. From 124.7k to 124.1k. This fluctuation is of no real significance.
The number of new credits granted completed and registered in May were up 20.2% on last month. 11.2% up on same month of last year. And 11.7% up year to date accumulated.
The total capital lent given a static month. Loan sizes were 19.2% up on the month over April. 16.8% up on same month of last year. Also 14.2% up year to date.
Types of lending
The percentage of new secured lending. Dedicated for the purpose of buying a residential house was 61.5%. All other lending related to loans secured for commercial purpose. A very small amount of lending granted to buy Rustica property. The amount of funding released to buy property based in the countryside was 3.7% of all lending. This is a very small and used to be nearer to 10%.
Buying and borrowing against Rustica property
The reduction of lending for property with Rustica status. Indicates the lack of appetite any lenders have for securing a loan against this type of property. Many Spanish lenders post crisis will not consider them at all. Of those few that will many restrictions apply. Any Spanish mortgage applicants considering buying a country home should ensure before committing to buying. That they have a fiscal approval. Not only for their circumstances but that it is clear what is agreed will cover a property on Rustica ground. If not it may all fall apart late in the day at the point of valuation.
If in doubt applicants need to request from agent or owner a copy of the Nota Simple. In order to check the exact situation of the property.
Some country properties may in fact have Urban status. On the odd occasion a Town House or even a gated community may also be Rustica. Generally if the property is not remote. Down a dirt track. Within the boundaries of a town or village. And connected to main utilities it will be urban.
Year on year performance
Mays completion figures showing an increase over April is in line with normal trends. March/April due to the Easter break over that period is normally lighter on completions than May. This year April was unusually quiet. So the increase month over month was more significant than most years.
The number of Spanish mortgages registered being up 20.2% was more than the 8% up month over month in 2018.
Variable rates lower than last year
Commercial lending numbers and rates showed that average variable rates were down 7.3% on last year. But fixed rates up 4% on last year. The average term was 23 years. The average rate below 3% at 2.62%. Which for commercial lending is good news for businesses.
For residential Mortgages in Spain the average term was 24 years. The average variable rate was 2.34%. Some 1.2% less than the same month of last year. And average fixed rates, which made up 39.4% of all new loan deeds up 12.6% from last year. With the average rate granted being 3.10%. Up 1.8% on same month of last year.
Rates will start to fluctuate. Banks are now required to give clients the option to take one rate but without linked products. Or one rate with. Fixed rate levels may also be affected. Due to new rules on the offering a currency switch. If your currency of earnings changes in the future. Banks may withdraw fixed rate access to certain groups like UK applicants.
Andalucia has highest level of actual new loans
Regionally the only area forming part of coastal or Islands parts of Spain to be behind. In terms of volume and capital on lending. Is the Canary Islands. Whilst May itself was a good month showing a positive increase, year to date they remain well behind normal levels.
Andalucia took back top spot in terms of absolute numbers 6.572 completions. Catalonia being number 2 at 6042 completions. Madrid dropping back to third position with 5.816 new completions registered at land registry.
Valencia and Murcia saw good increases in the month. Both areas have some of the lowest price per meter square for its real estate. In times of some level of uncertainty we are seeing more activity at the lower end of the price scale. Rather than commitment to the mid range or more expensive areas.
Spanish loan books
With 31.373 Spanish loans being cancelled or redeemed. The month saw a net inflow of lending for the Spanish lenders, but only just.