BBL seeks 15% growth
Bangkok Bank (BBL) is striving for 15% mortgage loan growth this year as it does not see the draft bill on land and buildings tax as a concern to home buyers.
Real demand for homes will still drive housing loan growth, said the bank's executive vice-president Pochanee Kongkalai
The bank's main mortgage target group is middle-income earners looking for homes priced at least 2-3 million baht a unit.
BBL, the country's fourth-largest mortgage lender, recorded healthy housing loan growth of 12-13% last year even though the country's economy was saddled with pre-coup political tensions and swelling household...
The controversial new land and buildings tax could weigh on home buyers' sentiment for a short while, but demand should return to normal after the tax rates are settled, said Mrs Pochanee, meaning the...
Despite the higher mortgage growth target this year, the bank will maintain its housing loan approval criteria, as the debt repayment ability of potential home loan borrowers is still BBL's main focus...
Lending to buyers who purchase residences developed by major developers is another focus of the bank to help control risk amid the economic doldrums.
BBL's mortgage loan portfolio is now split evenly between residences in Bangkok and provincial areas.