How to qualify for a bigger mortgage

How much a bank will lend you mainly depends on the monthly repayment you can afford under the National Bank of Slovakia’s rules. You can influence several of the factors before you apply.

Reduce your other debts

The limits include repayments of all loans and leases, as well as credit card and overdraft limits, even if you don’t use them. Paying off a small consumer loan or cancelling an unused credit card can therefore noticeably increase how much you can borrow.

Add a co-applicant

If you apply together with your partner, the bank assesses your combined income. It’s reduced by the subsistence minimum for each adult, but the amount left for repayments is usually still considerably higher.

Consider a longer term

A longer term means a lower monthly payment, so a larger loan fits within the limits. The standard maximum term is 30 years. For applicants aged 41 or older whose loan extends beyond age 65, however, the total debt limit falls from eight times annual income by 0.25 for each year of age above 40, to a minimum of three times income. A longer term therefore does not always increase borrowing capacity. Banks also have their own maximum age at repayment.

Save a larger down payment

Banks usually finance at most 80 % of a property’s value. The more of your own money you have, the more expensive a property you can buy with the same loan.

Keep your credit history clean

Late payments are recorded in credit registers, and banks see them when assessing your application. It’s worth checking the register for outdated or incorrect records before you apply.

Exceptions and changes from 2027

Standard 80% LTV does not rule out higher lending, but discretionary exceptions are not an entitlement. NBS Decree 3/2026 introduces 90% for qualifying first-home applicants aged at most 35 from January 2027 and a separate 70% limit for third and subsequent properties from July 2027, with permitted exceptions.