How does it work?

Bausparen is considered a contractual savings scheme and, in few words, links a savings phase to the right to receive a mortgage loan. Although Bauspar savers receive less interest on their deposits than do others, they are charged less for their loans in exchange. Further, interest rates are fixed for the whole contract term. This is what makes Bauspar loans very attractive.

A Bauspar contract concretely may be divided into 4 phases:

First, the contract itself is determined. With the Bauspar contract the lender and the borrower agree on the contract sum, the savings rate, the rate of repayment and the interest rates for the savings and the loan period.
During the following savings period, savers normally save about 40% to 50% of the total contract sum. The savings phase generally takes savers about 5 to 6 years.
Having concluded the savings phase, borrowers may take up their loan which consists in the difference between the saved capital and the contract sum. As the Bauspar system is based on a self-sustaining fund (that consists of deposits and repayments), sometimes, customers have to put up with a short waiting period until they may get their loan. Specific queuing rules determine the sequence of the loan disbursements to the customers.
After having received their loans, customers start with repayment. The interest rate of the loan usually is about 2% higher than the one for savings. Bauspar customers may repay more than their contract foresees and whenever they prefer to do that. They are not charged any prepayment penalty.

News and Research

The Joint Congress of UNECE and EFBS on "Housing Finance beyond Subprime" took place in Munich from 17 to 19 May 2010.

Press release: Study: "European regulation of mortgage credit is not the right approach to facilitating cross-border offers" (PDF)

Press release: "Change of personnel" (PDF)

Press release: "No force on the SEPA implementation" (PDF)

Press release: "Regulation of mortgage credit at EU level not justified by financial crisis" (PDF)

Press release: "Barrage fire from Brussels" (PDF)

Press release: "Taxpayer's money for subprime system?" (PDF)

Press release: "Personalia" (PDF)

Press release: "The renaissance of the 'bauspar' system" (PDF)

Press release: "Welcoming Mr. Barack Obama" (PDF)

Welcoming note (PDF)

"Bausparen - a safe way to home ownership" (PDF)

H. J. Dübel: The U.S. mortgage market’s crisis -abstract (PDF)

UNECE-study: Housing Finance Systems for Countries in Transition - abstract (PDF) <//strong><//strong><//strong><//strong><//strong><//strong><//strong><//strong>

Links

European Federation of Building Societies

International Union for Housing Finance

XV European Congress of the EFBS

Downloads

The Employee Savings Allowance	9K
House Building Premium	8K
Bausparkassen Act	99K