Surge in loan applications to state building finance agency

Home Building Finance Ireland had created €200 million fund to replace banks in response to pandemic

The agency said nearly-two thirds, or €263 million, of its funds have been drawn down to finance the construction of more than 1,100 homes across 16 housing schemes

The state’s building finance agency has recorded a surge in loan applications and approvals, with more than half of its €730 million funding already committed.

Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) committed €395 million from its overall capital at the end of 2020 to fund construction across the country, a 265 per cent increase on the previous year.

HBFI, which was set up two years ago to make cheap loans available to developers, changed its mandate ...