LTV — how much the bank lends
LTV is the ratio of the loan to the property’s value. The value comes from a valuation (expert appraisal), not the purchase price. Banks typically lend up to 80% of the value; a higher loan, up to 90% at most, is available only in a limited number of cases. The rest comes from your own funds.
Rate fixation
Fixation is the period during which your interest rate does not change. When it ends, the bank offers a new rate, and at that point you can usually repay the loan or move it to another bank without a fee. A longer fixation gives a predictable payment, a shorter one more flexibility.
Income and other loans
The bank assesses whether you can afford the payments. It looks at your total debt relative to income and at the share of income going to repayments, following rules set by the National Bank of Slovakia. Stable income and as few other loans as possible help — credit cards and overdrafts count too.
Documents banks ask for
- ID document
- Proof of income from your employer, or a tax return if self-employed
- Bank account statements
- Reservation or purchase agreement
- Title deed (list vlastníctva) of the property
- Valuation (expert appraisal) of the property
- Property insurance before the loan is drawn
The exact list varies by bank and your situation. The specialist will tell you exactly what is needed.