The Housing Finance System

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A. Primary Housing Finance Market

A.1 Industry Structure and Performance
VariableEnd of 2017End of 2016End of 2015SourcesVar ID
Number of firms originating and funding mortgage loans14 10
Bank of Zambia Annual Report 2017
A.1.1
Types of originating lenders/market share:A.1.2
Universal/ commercial banks 33.5% of total50% of total
Country Editor
A.1.2.1
Other depository institutions (savings and loans/mutual savings and credit institutions)14.29% of total 1% of total
Zambia National Building Society and Pan African Building Society
A.1.2.2
Non-depository financial institutions specialized in housing finance14.29% of total 0% of total
Bank of Zambia Annual Report 2017
A.1.2.3
General non-depository financial institutions7.14% of total 20% of total
Bank of Zambia Annual Report 2017
A.1.2.4
Others (e.g. insurance co, pension funds, labor tax funds)  0% of total
Editor
A.1.2.5
Identify the 3 largest loan originating lendersZambia National Building Society ZNBS, FBS, Stanbic Bank
Research
A.1.3
Are there (quasi) public mortgage lenders:Yes Yes
FINMARK Trust Scoping study- Zambia
A.1.4
Universal/ commercial banks  Yes
Country Editor
A.1.4.1
Other depository institutions (savings and loans/mutual savings and credit institutions)Yes Yes
Research
A.1.4.2
Non-depository financial institutions specialized in housing finance  Yes
Country Editor
A.1.4.3
General non-depository financial institutions  Yes
Country Editor
A.1.4.4
Others (e.g. insurance co, pension funds, labor tax funds)  Yes
Country Editor
A.1.4.5
Typical lending spreads for mortgages  16%
Bank of Zambia
A.1.5
Level of Non-Performing Mortgage Loans (90 days or more past due):A.1.6
as a % of outstanding loan amount  9%
Bank of Zambia
A.1.6.2
Average 1997-2007 A.1.7
Lowest decile of the income distribution served by the dominant mortgage lenders  1 decile
Country Editor
A.1.8
A.2 Size of Mortgage Finance Sector
VariableEnd of 2017End of 2016End of 2015SourcesVar ID
Total amount of home mortgage loans outstanding at the end of year in millions of USD:827.26 USD (millions)785.96 USD (millions)264.76 USD (millions)
Bank of Zambia Credit Market Monitoring Report 2017
A.2.1
Total amount of home mortgage loans outstanding at the end of year as % of GDP (current)3.24%3.75%1.29%
Bank of Zambia Credit Market Monitoring Report 2017
A.2.1.1
and as % of all credits outstanding27.01%33.33%59.1%
Bank of Zambia Credit Market Monitoring Report 2017
A.2.1.2
Total # of home mortgage loans outstanding at the end of year8.73 thousand11.3 thousand2.42 thousand
Bank of Zambia Credit Market Monitoring Report 2017
A.2.2
Total amount of home mortgages made in calendar year in millions of USD336.87 USD (millions)276.36 USD (millions) 
Bank of Zambia Credit Market Monitoring Report 2017
A.2.3
and as % of GDP (current) 1.32%1.32% 
Bank of Zambia Credit Market Monitoring Report 2017
A.2.3.1
and as % of all credits originated in calender year27.47%  
Bank of Zambia Credit Market Monitoring Report 2017
A.2.3.2
Total # of home mortgage originations made in calendar year 4.3 thousand2,000 thousand
Bank of Zambia Credit Market Monitoring Report 2016
A.2.4
What % of total new mortgages is refinance?  10%
Country Editor
A.2.5
A.3 Housing Finance Products
VariableEnd of 2017End of 2016End of 2015SourcesVar ID
Mortgage products as % of all mortgages (approx.) in local currency:A.3.1
Fixed rate for life of loan  0%
Editor
A.3.1.1
Variable rate/indexed  90%
Editor
A.3.1.2
Variable rate/discretionary  10%
Editor
A.3.1.3
Other fully amortizing loans (e.g. Rollover)  0%
Editor
A.3.1.4
Non-fully amoritizing loans (e.g. Price level adjusted/Interest only)   0%
Editor
A.3.1.5
Loans based on foreign currency as % of all mortgage products  10%
Editor
A.3.2
Most prevalent type of foreign currency mortgage used:A.3.3
Fixed rate for life of loan  0%
Editor
A.3.3.1
Variable rate/indexed   90%
Editor
A.3.3.2
Variable rate/discretionary  10%
Editor
A.3.3.3
Other (describe in the Notes section)  0%
Editor
A.3.3.4
Most frequent interest rates on fully amortizing:A.3.4
10 year fixed rate mortgage  19%
Country Editor
A.3.4.1
most common indexed ARM/10 year term  17%
Country Editor
A.3.4.2
discretionary ARM/10 year term  19%
Country Editor
A.3.4.3
5 year roll-over/10 year term  17%
Country Editor
A.3.4.4
Typical lender fees associated with mortgage origination: A.3.6
as % of loan amount5% 7.5%
2018 CAHF Yearbook
A.3.6.2
Typical third party fees associated with mortgage origination:A.3.7
Appraisal fees  1,080 USD
FinMark (2013) Housing Finance Sector Review
A.3.7.1
Title related fees  70 USD
Country Editor
A.3.7.2
Legal fees  720 USD
FinMark (2013) Housing Finance Sector Review
A.3.7.3
Search fees  50 USD
Country Editor
A.3.7.4
Loan-to-Value (LTV) on first mortgage: A.3.8
Maximum LTV  75%
Country Editor
A.3.8.1
Typical LTV at origination  75%
Country Editor
A.3.8.2
Maximum term over which pmt is calculated? 20 years 20 years
2018 CAHF Yearbook
A.3.9
Mortgage pmt-to-income ratio A.3.10
Maximum pmt-to-income ratio (HH income)  40%
Bank of Zambia
A.3.10.1
Maximum pmt-to-income ratio (Individual income)  40%
Bank of Zambia
A.3.10.2
Typical pmt-to-income ratio (HH income)  30%
Country Editor
A.3.10.3
Typical pmt-to-income ratio (Individual income)  40%
Country Editor
A.3.10.4
A.4 Lending and Servicing Process
VariableEnd of 2017End of 2016End of 2015SourcesVar ID
Does the mortgage industry use standard principles/guidelines for underwriting?  Yes
Country Editor
A.4.1
Which institutions define underwriting rules? A.4.2
Central Bank/Ministry of Finance  Yes
Country Editor
A.4.2.1
Secondary market facility  Yes
Country Editor
A.4.2.2
Major Lender  Yes
Country Editor
A.4.2.3
Other  Yes
Country Editor
A.4.2.4
Are loan originations conducted by others than employees of lenders?  Yes
Country Editor
A.4.3
% of Originations done by brokers  0%
Editor
A.4.3.1
% of Originations done on the internet  0%
Editor
A.4.3.2
Others (Specify in Notes)  0%
Editor
A.4.3.3
% of appraisals done by employees of lenders 90%1%
Country Editor
A.4.4
Do third party servicing institutions exist?   Yes
Country Editor
A.4.5
% of loans serviced by originators/lenders  90%
Country Editor
A.4.6
A.5 Credit Risk Assessment
VariableEnd of 2017End of 2016End of 2015SourcesVar ID
Do credit bureaus exist? YesYesYes
2018 CAHF Yearbook
A.5.2
Are there legal/regulatory constraints to gaining access to credit information?  Yes
Country Editor
A.5.2.1
What percentage of mortgage originations use credit scoring?  100%
Country Editor
A.5.1
Is mortgage default insurance available?  Yes
Country Editor
A.5.3
Number of private mortgage insurers  0
Editor
A.5.3.3
Are credit guarantee systems used?   Yes
Country Editor
A.5.4
Is there public sponsored MI / guarantee?  Yes
Country Editor
A.5.5
B. Funding Sources for Mortgages and the Secondary Mortgage Market
VariableEnd of 2017End of 2016End of 2015SourcesVar ID
What are the main funding sources for mortgages?B.1
Retail funding (deposits/other)primary primary
2018 CAHF Yearbook
B.1.1
Wholesale funding: loans from other banks or corporationssecondary secondary
2018 CAHF Yearbook
B.1.2
Funding through mortgage bonds   Non-applicable
 
B.1.3
Funding through securitization of mortgages  Non-applicable
 
B.1.4
What % of Residential Mortgage Backed Securities is issued by centralized conduit or liquidity facility?   1%
Country Editor
B.2
Who are the investors in RMBS?  Mainly foreign RMBS used but Farmers House Plc REITS
Country Editor
B.3
What is the proportion of RMBS in the overall private securities market?  Not available
Country Editor
B.4
C. Housing Microfinance
VariableEnd of 2017End of 2016End of 2015SourcesVar ID
Are non-collateralized housing micro-finance loans offered? Yes Yes
2018 CAHF Yearbook
C.1
Types of lenders operating in the housing micro-finance (HMF) sector:C.2
Commercial banksYes Yes
2018 CAHF Yearbook
C.2.1
Specialized non-depository MFIs Yes Yes
2018 CAHF Yearbook
C.2.2
NGOsYes Yes
2018 CAHF Yearbook
C.2.3
Others  YesC.2.4
None  No
Country Editor
C.2.5
Typical lending spreads in HMF  25
Editor
C.3
Level of NPLs (>90 days past due) in HMFC.4
as a % of loans19.1% 10%
Bank of Zambia Credit Market Monitoring Report 2017
C.4.1
as a % of outstanding loan amount  10%
Country Editor
C.4.2
Are non-collateralized but secured housing finance products offered (e.g. secured by pension or insurance savings)  Yes
Country Editor
C.5
Lowest income decile served with all non-collateralized housing lending products  10 decile
FinMark
C.6
back to top | Country Data:
Notes: LCMS T.8.8a
Notes:
Notes:
Notes:
Notes:
Notes:
Notes:
Notes:
Notes: % unknown, however these tend to be referrals, rather than third party applications from brokerage firms. Referrals are from estate agents and real estate developers
Notes: (2006) Living Conditions Monitoring Survey, (T. 14.2b) Includes free housing, other and missing data.
Notes: (2010) Living Conditions Monitoring Survey, (T. 14.2a) Includes free housing, other and missing data.
Notes: 10% Withholding Tax paid by the tenant to ZRA
Notes: 100% as required by law - Central Bank
Notes: 12.5%
Notes: 18.5%
Notes: 2006 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey (T. 14.2b)
Notes: 2006 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey. (T. 14.2b)
Notes: 2010 CLMS (T.14.1a)
Notes: 2010 CLMS (T.14.2a)
Notes: 2010 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey. (T. 14.2a)
Notes: 2010 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey. (T. 14.2a)
Notes: 3 types of property rights: State land leased for 99 years; Land rented by local chief/headman;land owned by counclils
Notes: 5 Commercial banks, BBZ, FNB, SCB, Stanbic, IZB, (excluding others which offer only internal loans to employees); 3 building societies, (ZNBS, FBS, PABS); 2 micro-fins / credit institution, (Ent FC, Madison); Total 10
Notes: 5 Commercial banks, BBZ, FNB, SCB, Stanbic, IZB, (excluding others which offer only internal loans to employees); 3 building societies, (ZNBS, FBS, PABS); 2 micro-fins / credit institution, (Ent FC, Madison); Total 10
Notes: 5% Property Transfer Tax paid by the seller to ZRA
Notes: 5-10% of loan amount
Notes: 9 commercial banks, 3 building societies, 2 other institutions specializing in housing finance or asset management
Notes: 9.75%
Notes: Against the lending practices established at Basel III
Notes: All lenders will use some form of credit scoring; either their own, the credit reference bureau, or both
Notes: An aggregate of population and household size based on growth rates
Notes: An aggregate of population and household size based on growth rates
Notes: Average loan size of $36,000 and 1% registration fee.
Notes: Average loan size of $36,000 and 2% legal fee.
Notes: Average loan size of $36,000 and ave. 3.0% valuation fee.
Notes: Bank of Zambia lending guidelines
Notes: Bank of Zambia Lending guidelines
Notes: Bank of Zambia lending guidelines
Notes: Based on a comparison between 2006 and 2008 LCMS data, based on actual incomes at the time.
Notes: Based on a comparison btwn 2006 and 2008 LCMS data, based on the equivalent USD exchange at the time.
Notes: BoZ only collate figures across total loans portfolio, (i.e. not mortgage specific)
Notes: Brokers
Notes: Brokers
Notes: But general ony, in terms of fulfilling the requirements of an enforceable contract
Notes: Cannot exceed 30% of income
Notes: Central Bank requirements
Notes: Commercial banks serve about 32-35% of the mortgage market
Notes: Costs of formal searches; usually included within legal fees
Notes: Customary tenure and leasehold tenure
Notes: Deposit rates around 3% (ave.), mortgage rates start from 14%, so 11%+ 16% is based on average lending rate of 19%
Notes: Domestic Credit data from Depository Corporations Survey - Statistic Fortnightly
Notes: Domestic Credit data from Depository Corporations Survey - Statistic Fortnightly
Notes: Editor estimate
Notes: Editor's Comment: Not aware of MDI being available, but I understand that an MI product has been introduced in 2013 There are also credit life insurance policies.
Notes: EFC, MAdison
Notes: Estimate, based on an average urban construction cost for self-build 85 sq.m
Notes: Estimate, based on the majority of housing stock being informal, self-build
Notes: Estimate, high for commercial, but low, for home loans from informal discussions. Would be based on USD
Notes: Estimate, low from informal discussions
Notes: Estimate, low from informal discussions
Notes: Estimate, low from informal discussions
Notes: Estimate, low from informal discussions
Notes: Estimate, low overall from informal discussions, but high in terms of proportion of foreign loans
Notes: Estimate. Includes informal / self-build - project management
Notes: Estimate. Includes informal / self-build - project management
Notes: Estimate. Includes informal / self-build - project management
Notes: Estimate. Average across housing sectors
Notes: Estimate. Average across sectors
Notes: Estimate: 4 times formal completions
Notes: Estimate: high from informal discussions
Notes: Estimate: low from informal discussions
Notes: Estimate: low from informal discussions
Notes: Estimate: Private developments, (MKP, NAPSA, Henan Gouji, Urban Shelter, NHA) c.1,000; Public sector, (services and civil servants), c.2,000; individual completions, c.2,000
Notes: Estimated: low from informal discussions
Notes: Evaluation based on total offering securitised lending. There are a wider variety engaged in non-securitised housing finance
Notes: Evaluation based on total offering securitised lending. There are a wider variety engaged in non-securitised housing finance
Notes: Evaluation based on total offering securitised lending. There are a wider variety engaged in non-securitised housing finance
Notes: Evaluation based on total offering securitised lending. There are a wider variety engaged in non-securitised housing finance
Notes: Evaluation based on total offering securitised lending. There are a wider variety engaged in non-securitised housing finance
Notes: FinMark (2013) Housing Finance Sector Review - informal discussions
Notes: FinMark (2013) Housing Finance Sector Review - informal discussions
Notes: FinMark (2013) Zambia Housing Finance Scoping Study - national
Notes: FinMark (2013) Zambia Housing Finance Sector Study, Fig. 2 - National
Notes: FNB, ZNBS, PABS, FBS
Notes: Foreign mortgage refinance facilities
Notes: Generally less than 10%
Notes: Generally less than 10%
Notes: Government recapitalized ZNBS
Notes: Habitat for Humanity
Notes: Home improvement loans and variations of the same such as home extension or home renovation loans, are primarily assessed based on the applicants capacity to repay and less-so on the intended purpose or actual value of the intended use. Loans in this category typically range from ZMW 3,000 to ZMW 150,000, ($600 to $30,000) and with terms of up to 36 months. They are essentially large consumer loans.
Notes: In so far as there are public sector institutions engaged in mortgage lending, (DBZ, ZNBS), and are offering competitive lending rates below market rates offered by private lenders (12% - ZNBS), and also a dedicated fund aimed towards lower income; Zambia Low Cost Housing Fund (ZLCHF)
Notes: In so far as there are public sector institutions engaged in mortgage lending, (DBZ, ZNBS), and have access to state funds and borrowing rates.
Notes: Informal survey based on PTT returns at Lusaka office. They receive 10-12 returns / per working day, around 3,000 pa. Tax returns are also filed at Ndola and Livingstone, (say +50%). Of the total returns received, 50% are below $30,000, suggesting more likely to be land transactions.
Notes: Informal survey of property transfer tax returns. Will include commercial and land
Notes: Interest rate cap is at 18.5% and set at 9% over policy rate for commercial banks
Notes: Key informant interviews, loan amounts in excess of $100,000
Notes: LCMS T.10.1
Notes: LCMS T.10.1
Notes: LCMS T.8.8a
Notes: Less than 1%. Farmers House have been backing Residential mortgage Securities to support its Lilayi Housing Project.
Notes: Living Conditions Monitoring Survey. Number of people residing in houses with Thatch /Palm leaf roofings
Notes: Loans / housing loans commonly require 3rd pty guarantees, and security against terminal (pension) benefits
Notes: Local Council Property Rates
Notes: Madison Asset Management Company invests in real estate developments and offers mortgages to investors
Notes: Median percentage of fees
Notes: Median percentage of fees
Notes: Minimum
Notes: More than 5%
Notes: Most MFIs are financial institutions which rely on their own funding sources, rather than borrowing at local rates of interest. Assuming a 9-10% borrowing cost, and rates of 35% per annum, results in a 25% lendign spread
Notes: Most MFIs are non-bank payroll based consumer lenders (90% of total MFI assets)
Notes: Mostly relate to BoZ guidance on lending practice
Notes: NatSave is a wholly Government owned savings institution that serves about 1% of the mortgage lending market
Notes: No regulatory constraints to using CRB other than data protection, but there are issues over the accuracy / quality of scoring
Notes: Not a specific lender, but RFIs appar to have standardised their terms againsteach other
Notes: Of the 17 commercial banks, 9 provide mortgages: Barclays, Cavmont, Citibank, Ecobank, First Alliance, First National, Indo Zambia, Stanbic Bank, Standard Chartered Bank
Notes: Offered but the practice is not common
Notes: One of the three building societies, Zambia National Building Society, is state-owned and provides mortgage lending alone with other banking services to residents.
Notes: Over 90%
Notes: Over 90% relates to ZNBS, the largest mortgage lender. If we include the non-traditional mortgage lenders this figure will decrease significantly
Notes: Pan African Building Society and Zambia National Building Society take deposits
Notes: Property Transfer Tax, (5%); VAT (16%) on new build developments
Notes: Securities and Exchange Commission
Notes: SI (Dec. 2012) under BoZ Act
Notes: Six MFIs are deposit-taking financial institutions
Notes: Subject to 3.3% growth rate based on 2010 Census
Notes: Subject to 3.3% growth rate based on 2010 Census
Notes: The Conveyancing Act 1881, The Law of Property Act 1911, (these are UK acts), and The Lands and Deeds Act, (Zambian)
Notes: The Conveyancing Act 1881, The Law of Property Act 1911, (these are UK acts), and The Lands and Deeds Act, (Zambian)
Notes: There common law rights which will allow courts to determine whether any contractual terms can be considered unfair. These can be addressed through the civil courts
Notes: There is very limited information available about MFIs, however it has been suggested that non-performing loans range between 10%-20% of portfolio, and is one of the factors holding back expansion.
Notes: These are policy guidelines published by BoZ, rather than a legal maximum
Notes: Types of tenure
Notes: Usually private guarantees from family members, or securities against capital of applicant's business
Notes: Variable but often not less than 90 days
Notes: Withholding Tax (WHT) on rental receipts (15%)
Notes: Zambia Low Cost Housing Loan Fund (ZLCHLF) Govt funded
Notes: Zambian Home Loans and Finance Building Society
Notes: ZHPPF - Saliswana Urban Poor Fund, Mitengo / ABESU
Notes: ZHPPF - Saliswana Urban Poor Fund, Mitengo / ABESU
Notes: ZNBS