The Macedonian National Bank remains committed to easing the conditions for purchasing a first home, and the new macroprudential measures, set to take effect on December 1 of this year, are expected to continue acting preventively to encourage sustainable household borrowing, National Bank Governor Trajko Slaveski highlighted during an interview with TV Telma, where he discussed measures the central bank is taking regarding housing lending to maintain financial sector stability and protect citizens from over-indebtedness.
Slaveski noted that the Skopje Apartment Price Index, published quarterly by the National Bank, shows signs of price stabilization. The index’s year-on-year growth in the third quarter of this year slowed to 10.3 percent, a level close to that observed in 2023, or prior to the pandemic.
According to Slaveski, these trends strengthen the negotiating position of buyers.
“This works to the advantage of individuals and households on the housing demand side. Their bargaining power increases, and they can secure a lower price,” Governor Slaveski noted.