Banco Santander and the ICF have signed the agreement by which the financial institution joins the group of banks of the 'Prestécs Emancipació' line that finances the down payment of the first home for young people up to 35 years of age.

The 'Prestécs Emancipació' cover up to 20% of the value of the property (with a cap of €50,000), while the remaining 80% is provided by the banks adhering to the programme: Arquia, Banc Sabadell, Bankinter, BBVA, CaixaBank and imagin, Caixa Enginyers, Caixa Guissona and LABORAL Kutxa and, from now on, Banco Santander.

In this way, the Government of Catalunya wants young people who can afford a mortgage, but who still do not have enough savings to meet the down payment, to be able to buy a home. Young people will not pay interest on this loan, and will not have to repay the principal until they have finished repaying the mortgage, with a maximum grace period of 30 years. Once the mortgage is paid, they will have five years to repay the loan.

Homes financed through this formula will be permanently protected. This allows a double objective to be achieved: to make it easier for young people to acquire their first home and to increase the stock of subsidised housing in Catalonia. If one day the property is to be sold, the price will be limited to the amount for which it was purchased, adding inflation and the cost of certain renovations, to ensure that the person recovers the investment and at the same time that the home remains affordable.

Applicants for the 'Prestécs Emancipació' must be registered in Catalonia and be between 18 and 35 years old (inclusive). The home must be the first one purchased by the applicant and must become their habitual residence. The gross annual income of the people who will live (including minors and people who do not apply for the loan) may not exceed the Catalonia Sufficiency Income Indicator (IRSC) multiplied by 6.5. For example, in the case of a single buyer, it may not exceed €80,963.31 per year and, in the case of two, €83,467.33.

The Catalan government will allocate 500 million euros over five years (2025-2029) to finance the line, at a rate of €100 million per year. These resources will be provided by the Government of Catalunya through the Housing Agency of Catalonia (AHC), while the Catalan Institute of Finance (ICF) will be in charge of managing the loans.