- In Tallinn, affordability rose marginally by 0.9 point in the first quarter this year compared with the same period in 2014, due to a 36-basis-point-decrease in interest rates.
- In Riga, the HAI increased by 2.1 points because wage growth outpaced apartment price growth.
- In Vilnius, the HAI rose by 3.3 points because of a 54-basis – point-decrease in interest rates.
- The time needed to save for a down payment increased over the past year by one month and one week in Tallinn, to 30.6 months, and by one month and almost three weeks in Vilnius, to 35.9 months. It decreased in Riga by three-and-a half – weeks, to 26.3 months.
The housing affordability index (HAI) is calculated for a family whose income is equal to 1.5 of average net wages with an average-sized apartment of 55 square meters. The HAI is 100 when households use 30% of their net wages for mortgage costs. When the HAI is at least 100, households can afford their housing, according to the established norm. The higher the number, the greater the affordability.
