European Mortgage Federation (EMF) published its Quarterly Review of European Mortgage & Housing Markets for Q4 2025, produced with national experts. The report covers short-term developments in EU mortgage and housing markets, with a quarterly focus on lending to retirement and senior buyers. It discusses affordability challenges for Europe’s ageing population and evaluates tools such as lifetime mortgages, home reversion plans, and equity-release schemes, noting prudential standards, consumer protection, and fairness concerns and varying availability across countries. The feature on Korea describes the reverse mortgage market and the government-led Home Pension program as an example of a stay-in-place strategy for older borrowers. The Norway country spotlight, written by Benedikte Fahre of Finance Norway, examines Norway’s housing finance model and the role of housing co-operatives and covered bonds. EMF also provides country fact sheets with indicators like outstanding mortgage lending, regulation, house price indices, and mortgage rates. The Q4 2025 review shows mortgage market recovery continuing across the continent, with rising balances and lending, though diverging by country due to rate dynamics and structural constraints. The ECB’s bank lending survey is cited as indicating growing demand driven by lower rates.
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