Press release

The European Mortgage Federation (EMF) has today published its Quarterly Review of European Mortgage Markets for the first quarter (Q1) of 2016.

Produced in cooperation with the Federation’s national experts, the Quarterly Review presents the latest short-term developments in mortgage and housing markets across the EU. The publication provides expert analytical commentary together with data tables and charts on the following key indicators:

 Mortgage interest rates;

 Total residential lending outstanding;

 Gross and net residential mortgage lending; and

 Nominal house price indices.

Overview of Q1 2016:

For the EU’s housing and mortgage markets, 2016 started where 2015 ended: increasing outstanding mortgage lending and decreasing interest rates. These two dynamics, however, show a decelerating pace with respect to the previous quarters. For house prices, the overall trend was one of increases, albeit to differing degrees according to the different countries. The recent vote by the UK to leave the EU will almost certainly have a significant impact on markets in the second half of 2016 and beyond, both in the UK and on the continent, which will be reflected in forthcoming quarterly reviews.

Luca Bertalot, EMF-ECBC Secretary General

The full Quarterly Review – Q1 2016 and the archive of previous editions (back to Q3 1998) are available on the EMF website here.