Mortgage interest rates in Spain soared in 2022, after falling below 1.5 percent at the end of 2021. In the second quarter of 2024, the average weighted interest rate stood at 3.46 percent. That was lower than the rate in the same period the previous year. Despite the increase, Spain had a considerably lower mortgage interest rate than many other European countries.The aftermath of the property bubble Before the bursting of the real estate bubble, the housing market experienced a period of intense activity. A context marked by economic growth, high employment rate, low interest rates, skyrocketing house prices and land speculation, among others, encourage massive lending for the acquisition of property; in 2005 alone, more than 1.3 million home mortgages were granted in Spain. When the bubble burst and the financial crisis hit the country, residential real estate transactions plummeted and households’ non-performing loans jumped to nearly 50 billion euros as countless families were not able to cope with their debts. Over a decade after the onset of the crisis, and despite falling mortgage rates, the volume of mortgage loans keeps decreasing every year. A homeowner country Traditionally, Spain has been a country of homeowners; in 2021, the homeownership rate was roughly 76 percent. While nearly half of Spanish households own their property with no outstanding payment, the percentage of households that have loan or mortgage pending has been decreasing in recent years. Despite ownership remaining as the preferred tenure option, cultural changes, job insecurity and mounting house prices are prompting Spaniards to opt more and more to become tenants instead of owners, as shown in the changing dynamics of the Spanish residential rental market.

The average mortgage interest rate in Spain followed a downward trend for almost a decade before increasing dramatically in 2022. In 2023, new housing loans had an average interest rate of 3.74 percent - about three times the interest rate in 2020. Mortgages with a five to 10-year term were the only product which saw rates decline between 2022 and 2023. Why did mortgage rates spike? Macroeconomic factors, such as inflation, economic growth, and fiscal policy, play a major role in determining the cost of a loan. Inflation in Europe started rising in late 2021, largely due to surging energy costs. In Spain, the annual change of the consumer price index peaked at almost 11 percent in July 2023. The European Central Bank has responded by introducing a series of hikes on the key interest rates (main refinancing operations, marginal lending facility, and deposit facility), which have affected lending rates across the European Union. How has the housing market reacted to the interest rate hike? The housing market follows a certain seasonality, with more home sales in the second and fourth quarters of the year. This was also the case in 2022, but the last quarter of the year saw an annual decline. Though compared to previous years, the number of transactions was one of the highest, the annual decrease shows a potential downturn.

The annual average interest rate on new residential loans in Spain continued to rise in 2023, after increasing in for the first time in 2022 following a decade long period of year-on-year decrease. In 2023, the average mortgage rate was 3.75 percent, up from 1.49 percent in 2021.

Key information about Spain Long Term Interest Rate

• Spain Long Term Interest Rate: Month Avg: Spain: ECB Harmonised was reported at 3.10 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 3.17 % pa in the previous month.
• Spain Long Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Nov 1991 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 13.00 % pa in Oct 1992 and a record low of 0.04 % pa in Dec 2020.
• Long Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by CEIC Data.

• In the latest reports, Spain Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: EURIBOR: 3 Months was reported at -0.57 % pa in Nov 2021.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Main Refinancing Operations) was set at 2.90 % pa in Feb 2025.
• Spain Exchange Rate against USD averaged 0.92 (USD/EUR) in Jun 2023.

Spain Mortgage Lending Rate: Over 3 Years: Average: Banks and Savings Banks data was reported at 1.932 % pa in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.891 % pa for Sep 2018. Spain Mortgage Lending Rate: Over 3 Years: Average: Banks and Savings Banks data is updated monthly, averaging 4.553 % pa from Nov 1990 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 336 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.920 % pa in Jan 1991 and a record low of 1.854 % pa in Jul 2018. Spain Mortgage Lending Rate: Over 3 Years: Average: Banks and Savings Banks data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of Spain. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.M009: Mortgage Rate.

The average mortgage interest rate decreased in nearly every country in Europe between 2012 and 2021, followed by an increase in response to inflation. In Hungary, Poland, Czechia, and Romania, mortgage rates peaked in late 2022 and the beginning of 2023, followed by a gradual decline until the first quarter of 2024. The rest of the countries under observation, including the biggest mortgage markets - the UK and Germany, saw a continued increase in interest rates until the fourth quarter of 2023. In the first quarter of 2024, mortgage interest rates declined quarter-on-quarter across almost all markets in focus, marking a long awaited easing of monetary policy.

Spain Mortgage Reference Lending Rate: Certificate data was reported at 0.379 % pa in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.315 % pa for Sep 2018. Spain Mortgage Reference Lending Rate: Certificate data is updated monthly, averaging 4.582 % pa from Jan 1984 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 418 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.460 % pa in Sep 1984 and a record low of 0.180 % pa in Nov 2017. Spain Mortgage Reference Lending Rate: Certificate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of Spain. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.M009: Mortgage Rate.

Mortgage Approvals in Spain increased to 38058 Units in January from 32249 Units in December of 2024. This dataset provides - Spain Mortgage Approvals- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Mortgage interest rates in Europe soared in 2022 and remained elevated in 2023. In many countries, this resulted in interest rates more than doubling. In Denmark, the average mortgage interest rate rose from 0.67 percent in 2021 to 4.98 percent in 2023. Why did mortgage interest rates increase? Mortgage rates have risen as a result of the European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate increase. The ECB increased its interest rates to tackle inflation. As inflation calms, the ECB is expected to cut rates, which will allow mortgage lenders to reduce mortgage interest rates. What is the impact of interest rates on homebuying? Lower interest rates make taking out a housing loan more affordable, and thus, encourage homebuying. That can be seen in many countries across Europe: In France, the number of residential properties sold rose in the years leading up to 2021, and fell as interest rates increased. The number of houses sold in the UK followed a similar trend.

Spain Number of Mortgages: Urban Areas data was reported at 40,721.000 Unit in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 38,655.000 Unit for Apr 2018. Spain Number of Mortgages: Urban Areas data is updated monthly, averaging 73,980.000 Unit from Jan 2003 (Median) to May 2018, with 185 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 180,116.000 Unit in Sep 2005 and a record low of 18,271.000 Unit in Aug 2013. Spain Number of Mortgages: Urban Areas data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistics Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.EB012: Mortgage Statistics.

The benchmark interest rate in Spain was last recorded at 4.50 percent. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Spain Interest Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Bank Lending Rate in Spain decreased to 3.21 percent in January from 4.09 percent in December of 2024. This dataset provides - Spain Bank Rate on Loans to Non Financial Corporations - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Spain Mortgage Reference Lending Rate: Domestic Govt Bonds: 3 to 6 Years data was reported at 0.354 % pa in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.344 % pa for Sep 2018. Spain Mortgage Reference Lending Rate: Domestic Govt Bonds: 3 to 6 Years data is updated monthly, averaging 4.409 % pa from Jan 1984 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 418 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.660 % pa in Jun 1984 and a record low of 0.180 % pa in Sep 2017. Spain Mortgage Reference Lending Rate: Domestic Govt Bonds: 3 to 6 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of Spain. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.M009: Mortgage Rate.

Spain - Housing cost overburden rate: Owner, no outstanding mortgage or housing loan was 2.20% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Spain - Housing cost overburden rate: Owner, no outstanding mortgage or housing loan - last updated from the EUROSTAT on March of 2025. Historically, Spain - Housing cost overburden rate: Owner, no outstanding mortgage or housing loan reached a record high of 3.10% in December of 2021 and a record low of 1.60% in December of 2009.

Mortgages Statistic: Average interest rate of mortgages constituted. Monthly. National.

Spain Number of Mortgages: Urban Areas: Saving Institutions Loans data was reported at 0.000 Unit in May 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 Unit for Apr 2018. Spain Number of Mortgages: Urban Areas: Saving Institutions Loans data is updated monthly, averaging 37,641.000 Unit from Jan 2003 (Median) to May 2018, with 185 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 105,347.000 Unit in Jan 2007 and a record low of 0.000 Unit in May 2018. Spain Number of Mortgages: Urban Areas: Saving Institutions Loans data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistics Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.EB012: Mortgage Statistics.

The statistics show the evolution of the official five-year Interest Rate Swap (IRS) between August 2015 and August 2016. This reference index for mortgage rates quoted negative from June 2016 and reached value of -0.14% in July 2016.

Spain Mortgage Amount data was reported at 5,630.696 EUR mn in Aug 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 5,579.505 EUR mn for Jul 2018. Spain Mortgage Amount data is updated monthly, averaging 9,266.218 EUR mn from Jan 2003 (Median) to Aug 2018, with 188 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30,185.254 EUR mn in Jan 2007 and a record low of 2,283.344 EUR mn in Dec 2013. Spain Mortgage Amount data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistics Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.EB012: Mortgage Statistics.

The number of residential mortgages constituted in Spain has slowly increased year-on-year since 2013, but as of 2022, it remained shy from the levels before the market crash. In 2022, about 464,000 mortgages were constituted, up from about 200,000 in 2013. Among the drivers of the recovery were the record-low mortgage rates during that period.

Spain Number of Mortgages: Urban Areas: Other Institutions Loans data was reported at 4,487.000 Unit in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,847.000 Unit for Apr 2018. Spain Number of Mortgages: Urban Areas: Other Institutions Loans data is updated monthly, averaging 7,635.000 Unit from Jan 2003 (Median) to May 2018, with 185 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28,444.000 Unit in Mar 2006 and a record low of 2,828.000 Unit in Dec 2017. Spain Number of Mortgages: Urban Areas: Other Institutions Loans data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistics Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.EB012: Mortgage Statistics.