Hungary to replace Otthon Start with new Wekerle Plusz housing loan scheme

During a parliamentary budget presentation, Prime Minister Magyar Péter disclosed that the Otthon Start program will be discontinued and replaced by the Wekerle Plusz initiative starting in 2027. The new loan product will be available only to individuals between 18 and 41 years old, with a mandatory residence requirement of five years in the acquired property. A state-supported housing savings scheme will accompany the loan, providing non-repayable subsidies to boost borrowers' equity.

The government also plans to raise the ceiling for renovation loans and introduce larger grants for energy-saving upgrades, accessible nationwide without marital or child-bearing conditions. Existing Otthon Start agreements will continue unchanged, while bank commissions on the program are slated to be cut. The reforms aim to correct perceived inequities in the previous system, which the prime minister said had disproportionately benefited high-income households.