New mortgage rules 2026 - lowered down payment to 10% and raised mortgage cap

On April 1, 2026, new mortgage rules take effect in Sweden. The changes affect both you who are buying a home and you who already have a mortgage and are considering borrowing more.

Here we go through what the new mortgage rules mean, how the down payment is affected, and what it means for the housing market.

Down payment lowered to 10% - mortgage cap raised to 90%

One of the biggest changes in the new mortgage rules for 2026 is that the mortgage cap is being raised from 85% to 90% of the home's value.

This means that the down payment requirement is reduced from 15% to 10%.

For you who want to buy a home, this means you need a lower personal contribution.

Example:

• Home worth 3,000,000 SEK
• Previous down payment (15%): 450,000 SEK
• New down payment (10%): 300,000 SEK

This makes it easier for more people to enter the housing market, especially for first-time buyers.

Note that the bank still conducts an individual credit check and determines how much you can borrow.

Stricter amortization requirement removed in 2026

Another important change is that the stricter amortization requirement is removed.

Previously, households with mortgages exceeding 4.5 times their annual income had to amortize an additional 1% per year. This requirement disappears with the new rules.

The basic amortization requirements remain, but the change can mean lower monthly costs for some households.

New rules for increasing mortgages - max 80% LTV ratio

For those who already own their home, however, it will be tougher to increase the mortgage.

From April 1, 2026, the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio when increasing a mortgage may be a maximum of 80% of the home's value, compared to today's 85%.

This may affect the ability to:

• borrow for renovations
• free up capital from the home
• renegotiate existing loans

Revaluation of homes - new rules 2026

The new mortgage rules also mean that the revaluation of a home is restricted.

As a general rule, a home may only be revalued every five years, even if the purpose is to increase the mortgage.

This can make it harder to quickly increase borrowing in the event of rising home prices.

What do the new mortgage rules mean for you?

The new mortgage rules of 2026 entail both opportunities and limitations:

For you as a buyer:

• Lower down payment (10%)
• Easier to enter the housing market

For you who already own a home:

• Harder to increase mortgages
• Limited opportunity for revaluation