Huge opportunity: Hungary’s Home Start programme might open to another group!

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced that the government plans to extend the Home Start (Otthon Start) programme to young Hungarians working abroad.

Home Start programme may open up for Hungarians working abroad

Speaking in Szentendre after the EU summit in Brussels, Orbán emphasised that despite the challenging economic environment of recent years, several key commitments had been fulfilled, including the restoration of the 13th-month pension and the expansion of family tax benefits.

The Home Start scheme aims to support young people in purchasing their first home through a subsidised loan with a fixed interest rate of 3%. The latest announcement suggests a significant shift, as the programme could soon be accessible to those who are currently employed outside Hungary.

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What has prevented applicants until now?

One of the main obstacles under the current rules relates to social security eligibility, writes 24.hu. While foreign employment can count towards the required two-year period of social security coverage, stricter conditions apply in the final six months before submitting an application.

During this period, applicants are generally expected to have a Hungarian employment or business status, which has effectively excluded many young people working abroad.

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Many details remain unclear around Home Start’s new rules

The proposed changes could remove this barrier, but the exact details have not yet been disclosed. It remains uncertain who exactly will qualify, whether a Hungarian address will be required, and when the new rules might come into force.

Experts also highlight that banks’ lending criteria will play a crucial role. Even if applicants meet the legal requirements, financial institutions may reject applications if the foreign income is deemed too risky or comes from certain countries.

For our foreign readers: What’s the Home Start programme?

Hungary’s Home Start programme (Hungarian: Otthon Start) is a government-backed housing scheme launched in 2025 to help people, especially young adults, buy their first home.

It is a subsidised mortgage scheme where the Hungarian state supports homebuyers by offering low-interest loans well below market rates. Its main goal is to make homeownership more accessible in a country where property prices have risen sharply in recent years.

Its key features include:

• Very low interest rate
  • Fixed 3% interest rate for the entire loan term
  • This is roughly half of typical market mortgage rates (6–8%). This significantly reduces monthly repayments.
• Loan size and duration
  • Up to HUF 50 million (≈ €125,000)
  • Maximum term: 25 years
• Low deposit requirement
  • Minimum 10% down payment (compared to ~20% for standard mortgages)
• Who can apply?
  • Primarily first-time homebuyers
  • No requirement to be married or have children
  • Open to: Hungarian citizens; foreign residents with a Hungarian address (in many cases)
• Property price limits
  • To prevent overheating the market:
    • Flats: max HUF 100 million
    • Houses: max HUF 150 million
    • Price cap: HUF 1.5 million per m²

The Home Start (Otthon Start) programme is Hungary’s flagship subsidised mortgage scheme, offering 3% fixed-rate loans up to HUF 50 million to help people buy their first home.

Featured image: depositphotos.com