Last year, the decline in bad debts tied to housing loans slowed down significantly, dropping 2.4 times more slowly than in the previous year. This trend is based on data from a prominent debt collection agency and covered by major business outlets. The focus is on how lenders and collectors interpret the movements in mortgage risk and what it means for borrowers and banks alike.
Debt Advisor reported that the end of 2022 showed a mortgage delinquency benchmark of 8 percent, compared with 19 percent at the end of 2021. In concrete terms, the total value of non-performing mortgage loans in banks contracted by 5.6 billion rubles over the last year, whereas the year prior the reduction stood at 15 billion rubles. This shift signals a cooling in problem loans, but also highlights the persistent exposure banks face in certain segments of the housing loan portfolio.
Industry analysts explained that at the start of the current year, roughly one in every 251 mortgage loans faced potential trouble, while in 2022 about one in every 167 housing loans looked distressed. By January of this year, the aggregate amount of overdue housing loan debt stood at 61.1 billion rubles, compared with 66.7 billion rubles in the same month the previous year. The share of non-performing housing loans in the overall portfolio decreased from 0.6 percent in 2021 to 0.4 percent in 2022, indicating improved asset quality but continued vigilance is necessary for risk management teams.
From the perspective of economists, strategic steps can help borrowers reduce mortgage costs. In the context of public and private sector programs, a borrower might benefit from government-supported lending initiatives, the bank and developer collaborative programs, or loan refinancing to secure a lower rate. Additionally, tax considerations can provide meaningful savings on mortgage expenses, especially when eligible deductions or credits are applied timely and correctly. These insights come from financial commentators and industry observers who emphasize careful planning and staying informed about available relief measures and refinancing opportunities.