The Unassuming Economist

“Strong household credit growth reflects substantial home refinancing and some equity withdrawals. While borrowing can help support a recovery in domestic demand, competition among banks has made high LTVs more common (e.g., through higher LTV mortgages or topping up regular mortgages with housing loans). Although real estate prices remain subdued and household debt is not high, this practice could lead to overborrowing by consumers. Adoption of a regulation on LTV or debt-to-income ratios could help prevent an excessive build-up of risks for borrowers and banks,” according to latest IMF economic report on Slovak Republic.