The State Bank of Vietnam announced a new draft decree that requires commercial banks to support low-income people to buy homes.

 People are reluctant to borrow because of high interest rates

The decree stated that five banks, including BIDV, Vietinbank, Vietcombank and Housing Bank of Mekong Delta must spend at least 3% of last year’s outstanding loans to support their borrowers.

Low-income people, state officials and soldiers will be given preferential loans when buying homes smaller than 70 square metres at prices less than VND15 million per square metre (USD720). Investors in social housing projects will also be backed.

To be able to borrow money, the individual customers must show their contract, pledge that they only buy or rent one home and that they haven't made any other loans.

Investors who want to take loans must ensure that their names show up in the Ministry of Construction's investor list for social housing projects.

The SBV will help out by giving VND30 trillion in refinancing to the banks. This fund will be disbursed from April 15, 2013 to April 15, 2016. The banks must repay the debts by April 15, 2023.

Borrowers will be able to enjoy the interest rate of only 6% per year until the refinance fund is completely disbursed. After that, the SBV will announce a suitable interest rate to help the borrowers.

The minimum loan amount is 80% of the property's value to individuals for 10 years and 70% to investors for 5 years period.

The SBV is gathering more opinions in order to implement the decree on April 15.