Surveys show that over 80% of families in Russia are open to the idea of a mortgage when buying a home. Within five years, roughly 3.9 million households plan to secure a mortgage, and about 5.5 million may qualify under certain conditions, such as favorable interest rates. These preferential programs have been a major driver for home purchases.
Family mortgage programs stand out as some of the most popular and accessible options today. This year alone, more than 275 thousand families have benefited, which is more than one and a half times the total from the previous year.
According to DOM.RF data, more than 750 thousand families have used this program since its 2018 launch.
Today, families with children can qualify for a 6% mortgage for purchasing or constructing a home. The criteria apply to families whose first child was born between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2023, who have two minor children, or who are caring for a child with a disability. Adoptive parents can also participate in the program.
Other conditions include a 20 percent down payment and a cap on the loan amount. In Moscow and the Moscow region, the limit is 12 million rubles for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, and 6 million rubles for other regions. A family mortgage can be used to buy a new building, to build a home with a contractor, or to purchase land and construct a private house on it.
In some cases, a subsidized loan may be available for secondary housing. For example, families with disabled children can buy a second home in an area where there are no new houses within the program. A family mortgage can also be used to purchase an apartment or house on the secondary market in rural areas of the Far Eastern Federal District.
Not just mortgage
The government has rolled out multiple support measures to assist families in paying their mortgages. Since 2019, a program to help large families cover mortgage costs has benefited almost 600 thousand households, with many able to repay early.
To qualify, applications are submitted through the State Services portal or in person at the issuing bank. Families can receive up to 450 thousand rubles—the maximum payment offered to households where a third or subsequent child was born between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2023. Notably, eligible families still have time to secure a new mortgage to receive this bonus, as loans may be issued until July 1, 2024.
Additionally, some regions offer extra support measures. For instance, in Primorsky Territory, a mortgage payment of up to 550 thousand rubles becomes available upon the birth of a third or subsequent child and runs through December 31, 2025.
All federal mortgage programs are often combined with other federal payments. Tax deductions on housing purchases, maternity capital, and programs that help large families pay down mortgages can supplement these efforts.
Other avenues to accumulate funds for early mortgage repayment include a property deduction on the home purchase. Anyone buying or building housing can claim 13% of the home cost, up to 260 thousand rubles. If both spouses pay personal income tax, the deduction can be doubled by filing jointly with the tax authority.
There is also a deduction for mortgage interest payments. This allows a 13% return on interest paid to the bank, capped at 390 thousand rubles, and it can be doubled if both spouses are on the loan. If sufficient interest has been paid, applying for this deduction later in the loan term can be more beneficial.
Families with children may use maternity capital to repay the mortgage early. It can fund a down payment, help purchase a home, or support construction or reconstruction of a custom home. As a reminder, families whose first child was born after January 1, 2020 received maternity capital of 586.9 thousand rubles; for a second or subsequent child born after that date, the payment rises to 775.6 thousand rubles.
Additionally, all preferential mortgage programs are combined with a federal payment of 450 thousand rubles for large families, payable immediately after the mortgage is obtained. Prospective borrowers can review available support measures on official portals or by contacting helplines.
Advisors are available through the official DOM.RF portal, which serves a large audience every month. The government has released detailed analyses covering many housing scenarios and related support measures.
In practice, this means families can explore a range of options and combine multiple forms of aid to minimize costs and accelerate homeownership. The information is designed to guide families through eligibility, application steps, and the nuanced rules that apply to different regions and family situations.