Are you planning to buy an apartment as an investment or considering adding another property to your portfolio? If so, you are approaching an important milestone. The Czech National Bank (CNB) has announced stricter rules for investment mortgages, which will come into effect on April 1, 2026.
In practice, this means that the window for financing investment properties with a lower share of your own funds is gradually closing.
What Will Change from April 2026?
While conditions for owner-occupied housing will remain largely unchanged, the CNB is introducing stricter limits for investment properties (typically third and subsequent properties or apartments intended for rental):
- Maximum LTV of 70% – Until now, banks commonly provided loans of up to 80% of a property’s value. Under the new rules, you will need 30% in own funds. For an apartment priced at CZK 5 million, this means having CZK 500,000 more in equity compared to current conditions.
- DTI limit of 7 – An investor’s total debt may not exceed seven times their net annual income. For investors with multiple loans, this may result in certain limitations on further financing.
Three Reasons Not to Wait Until Spring
- Higher leverage effect Property investment is most effective when working with borrowed capital. If a mortgage is arranged now, 20% own funds are still sufficient. From April, the entry barrier will increase, which may slow the further growth of an investment portfolio.
- Rising property prices Apartment prices in attractive locations continue to rise over the long term. Waiting for a potential reduction in interest rates may not offset the higher purchase price of the property or the need for a higher down payment.
- Higher likelihood of approval under current conditions Banks respond to CNB recommendations in advance and gradually adjust their internal methodologies. Applications submitted in time generally have a higher chance of passing the approval process under the current, more lenient rules.
Our tip: Obtaining an investment mortgage will be more demanding from April than it is today. If you already have a specific property in mind, it is currently advisable to act and secure financing under the existing conditions. The difference between 20% and 30% own funds has a significant impact on an investor’s cash flow. We also note that applicants under the age of 36 still benefit from preferential conditions, allowing them to use only 10% of their own funds and obtain a mortgage of up to 90%. With the introduction of the new rules, this option will no longer be available.
Would You Like to Complete a Purchase Under the Current Conditions?
We can help you assess an investment opportunity and, in cooperation with our financial and legal partners, review your options before the new rules come into force.