ASP saving and ASP loans

If two ASP savers purchase a shared home either under a joint ASP agreement or under separate ASP agreements, the ASP interest subsidy loan may be granted at up to 50 % higher per home than the maximum amount per municipality. The purchase of a home can be carried out either with a joint ASP loan or with separate loans.

Shared loan

If the ASP savers have a shared ASP account and want to take out a shared ASP loan, the maximum amount of the loan is calculated based on the ASP account’s savings (savings times nine). The loan amount may be 50% higher than the maximum amount per municipality.

If the ASP savers have had two separate ASP accounts, the sum of the savings of the two ASP accounts can be used to calculate the possible maximum amount of the ASP interest subsidy loan (the savings of both accounts multiplied by nine). Both savers must have been saving for at least eight calendar quarters. The maximum amount shall be calculated on the basis of deposits of up to EUR 4,500 per quarter. All of the deposits can, however, be observed in the calculation of the 10 per cent required savings. You can find calculation examples here (in Finnish).

Separate loans

If the ASP savers have a shared ASP account, it must be divided before taking out separate ASP loans.

If the ASP savers have separate accounts and want separate loans, the maximum amount of a loan based on both ASP accounts is calculated separately for both savings amounts. The maximum amount shall be calculated on the basis of deposits of up to EUR 4,500 per quarter. In this case, both people saving for a home must have their own savings of 10% of the purchase price of their share, and both ASP savers must have been saving for at least eight calendar quarters. You can find calculation examples here (in Finnish).

The state pays an interest subsidy if the interest rate applied to the ASP loan exceeds 3.8 per cent. The interest subsidy is paid for the first ten years starting from when the loan is first taken out. The interest subsidy is paid through the bank so that the bank charges the interest from the ASP borrower, minus the portion paid by the government. The State Treasury pays the interest subsidy to the bank twice a year (on 31st May and 30th November).

The interest subsidy covers 70 per cent of the portion of the interest rate that exceeds 3.8 per cent. When the interest rate of the ASP loan is less than 3.8 per cent, the borrower pays the entire interest.

The interest subsidy ends if the home is sold, and the loan is repaid. If a specific share of the home is sold, the ASP interest subsidy loan must be repaid in proportion to the sale.

A maximum of two instalment-free years can be applied to the loan during the period of the interest subsidy. If the receiver of the loan wishes to repay the ASP loan ahead of schedule, it is possible to agree on the repayment schedule freely with the bank.

If necessary, the ASP interest subsidy loan can also be granted state guarantee. The state guarantee is free of charge. An agreement on the guarantee must be made in writing during the loan negotiations before the purchase of a home. The amount of the loan with a state guarantee may be up to 90 per cent of the purchase price of the home.

In addition to the ASP interest subsidy loan, the state guarantee can also be applied to the so-called ASP additional loan. The guarantee may be up to 25 per cent of the loan sum in both instances. The guarantee is free of charge for ASP interest subsidy loans, but the guarantee is subject to a fee when applied to additional loans. If a new home is purchased and an exciting ASP loan is transferred to the new home, a fee is also applicable if additional loans are added. The maximum guarantee sum per apartment is 60,000 euros.

If a state-guaranteed ASP loan is transferred to a new home, the amount of the state-guaranteed loan cannot exceed 90 per cent of the purchase price of the home. In this event, the guarantee may be up to 25 per cent of the loan sum. The maximum loan-to-value ratio that is set by the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority should also be taken into consideration.

Apartments bought using the ASP loan must be located in Finland. The ASP saver must purchase at least 50 per cent of the condominium shares or stakes or the detached house to be able to utilise the ASP loan.

In connection with the construction of a detached house, the plot may also be part of ASP financing, if the price of the plot is included in the cost estimate of the project and construction is started immediately after purchasing the plot. The share of the plot allocated to a condominium can be included when calculating the ASP loan if the plot is purchased together with the apartment.

Please note:

• A parking space can be covered by an ASP loan if it is purchased together with the apartment. The amount of parking spaces is limited to one per owner.
• A condominium loan share can be included in the purchase price, as long as it has been valued and verified per apartment and it is paid off as soon as possible.
• A part-ownership apartment can be bought if at least 50 per cent of the shares will be owned by the borrower and at least 50 per cent of the shares or stakes are being traded.
• An ASP loan cannot be utilised to finance right-of-occupancy housing.
• The home must be used for personal use as a permanent dwelling after the purchase.

The ASP loan can be used to purchase a home that is rented at the time of the sale. In this event, the home must, however, be taken into personal use as a permanent dwelling immediately after closing the sale, and the borrower must terminate the lease of a tenant immediately after the sale is closed.

An apartment where the ASP saver is already living before the purchase is made can be purchased with an ASP loan.

The remaining share of an apartment inherited or gifted earlier for partial ownership can be bought from the estate (at least 50 per cent).

An ASP saver can agree with the bank on interim financing, if they want to purchase a home before the terms of ASP agreement have been fulfilled. The condition for granting interim financing is that the saver has made a deposit in the ASP account on at least four calendar quarters. If a home is purchased before the required four deposits have been made, the ASP agreement is terminated. In this case, the ASP saver cannot receive ASP benefits (for example, additional interest on ASP savings).

The total loan is agreed in writing at the time of agreeing on the interim financing, even if the ASP saver does not need to raise interim financing or they only need to withdraw one instalment. When they meet the ASP terms, the interim financing is paid off using the funds in the ASP account and the ASP loan.

The terms of the interim financing are agreed with the bank, and ASP loan terms are not applied to this form of financing. Interim financing cannot come from parents or family members. Instead, it must be a loan granted by the bank. Funds deposited to the ASP account cannot be utilised at this time either.

The ASP saver can apply for a state guarantee (up to 20 per cent of the loan) as security for the interim financing, if necessary. In this event, a 2.5 per cent guarantee fee is paid for the guarantee sum, which is not returned to the borrower once the interim financing is replaced with the ASP loan. When the interim financing with the state guarantee is later replaced by the ASP loan, the state guarantee may be up to 25 per cent of the loan (see “State guarantees for ASP loans”). The state guarantee is free of charge for ASP loans.

After acquiring the home with interim financing, the ASP saver must continue saving to the ASP account until the required 10 % savings have been reached. The timetable for saving the missing deposit instalments and when the interim financing will be converted into ASP financing must be agreed with the bank.

Interim financing must be replaced with an ASP loan immediately when meeting the criteria for an ASP loan, i.e. when the required savings and calendar quarters are fulfilled.

The ASP saver may also be eligible for ASP benefits to purchase their first home from a new property being built. The ASP saver may be involved in a joint building project and fund the apartment they are going to own, or parts of it, with ASP savings and the ASP loan, which can be withdrawn in instalments as construction progresses.

Any additional or amendment work commissioned by the buyer during the construction phase of the new home can be included in the total price of the apartment, in which case their costs can be covered by the ASP loan. The bank must document the amendment work in a reliable manner and attach the documents to the bill of sale.

The reservation fee charged during the advance promotion of the apartment cannot be paid with ASP savings or the ASP loan, as they can only be withdrawn at the time of the sale.

When the ASP saver’s required savings are met, the purchase price of the apartment may be paid using ASP savings and the ASP loan in accordance with the payment schedule specified in the bill of sale. The sale price and the unencumbered price of the new property is usually divided into several instalments:

1. When the deed of sale is signed, the first instalment of the sale price. The first instalment of the purchase price is paid for ASP savings and, if necessary, an ASP interest subsidy loan or an additional loan is also withdrawn. ASP savings are always used to pay the sale price first before raising a loan.
2. Instalments paid during construction. The instalments of the sale price due during construction are paid by first using the remaining savings in the ASP account and then an ASP loan or additional loan.
3. Last instalment of the purchase price (after completion). The final purchase price is paid with any remaining ASP savings and after that, with an ASP loan or additional loan.
4. Saver’s share of condominium debt (if repayable). If so agreed, the condominium loan portion of the apartment can be included in ASP financing. In this case, the 10 per cent required savings are calculated based on the unencumbered price of the apartment. If the ASP saver wishes to utilise an ASP loan to pay for your share of the condominium debt, they must make an agreement with the bank by the time the deal is closed. The allocated share of the condominium debt is paid using the ASP interest subsidy loan or additional loan when it is possible to repay it.
5. The redemption price of the share of the plot allocated to the apartment. The redeemed share of the plot can be covered by ASP funding. This must be agreed with the bank before the purchase date. The redemption must be paid as soon as it is possible.

A home purchased with an ASP loan may be rented for up to two years. Renting the home requires special circumstances, which may include studying or working abroad or in another location. Military service is also considered a special circumstance.

For long-term rental, the ASP loan must be converted into an ordinary mortgage. This must be agreed with the bank.

An ASP home can also be sublet. More than 50 per cent of the home must be used for the ASP borrowers own permanent dwelling. A studio apartment cannot be sublet.

The ASP loan can be transferred to a new home if it is intended for the personal use of the saver as a permanent dwelling. You must agree on transferring the loan with the bank, and the sale price is deposited into a collateral account of the bank for the transition period.

You must own at least 50 per cent of the next home as well.

The ASP interest subsidy loan can be transferred as is if it is possible in terms of the purchase price of the new home. Any difference in price can be paid by taking out an additional loan.

Example:

• The new home costs 150,000 euros.
• The sum of the valid ASP interest subsidy loan is 85,000 euros, 21,250 euros (25 per cent) of which are guarantees.
• A total of 90 per cent (135,000 euros) of the new home may be covered by the state-guaranteed loan. Up to 25 per cent of this sum, i.e. 33,750 euros, may be guarantees.
• The existing ASP interest subsidy loan is transferred as is, which means that the sum of the new state-guaranteed loan may be up to 50,000 euros (135,000-85,000 euros) and 12,500 euros (33,750–21,250 euros) of this may be guarantees.
• A guarantee fee must be paid for the additional loan.

A home that is the object of an ASP loan may, for a special reason, be rented for a maximum of two years. For example, working or studying in another municipality are considered justified reasons. Renting for more than two years is not allowed even for a justified reason. Therefore, an ASP loan home cannot be purchased, for example, as an investment apartment.

The interest subsidy is paid for a maximum of the first ten years of the loan. For more information on the interest subsidy, see the section “Government interest subsidy for an ASP loan”. At the end of the interest subsidy, the restrictions on renting an ASP home will also end.

The State Treasury monitors the use of ASP interest subsidy loans under the law. If the recipient of an ASP interest subsidy loan has used the loan funds for purposes other than those specified in the law, the interest subsidy may be terminated. In this case, the State Treasury may, by decision, oblige the recipient of the interest subsidy to repay the received interest subsidy back to the State at maximum five times its amount. In practice, the use of loan funds for purposes other than those referred to in the law means that the dwelling is not used by the borrower. From the perspective of the State Treasury’s supervisory task, it is particularly important that the ASP interest subsidy borrower ensures that their address information is always up to date and that any changes are reported to the Population Information System.

If the State Treasury finds that the loan funds may have been used for an unlawful purpose, it will launch an enforcement case in which the borrower is asked to investigate the use of the loan funds. Under the Act, the ASP interest subsidy loan recipient is obliged to provide the State Treasury with the information necessary to establish that the loan has been used for an approved purpose. If a supervisory matter is initiated, the borrower always has the right to be heard and to make a statement on the matter to the State Treasury. The State Treasury will investigate the matter on the basis of the available data and the data provided by the borrower before making a decision on the matter.

If the State Treasury finds that the loan funds have not been used for statutory purposes, the State Treasury will terminate the interest subsidy and, at its discretion, may recover the paid interest subsidy at maximum five times its amount. If it is considered that the use of the loan funds has been in compliance with the law, there will be no changes to the interest subsidy for the ASP interest subsidy loan.

The termination of the interest rate subsidy also entitles the financial institution that granted the loan to demand repayment of the loan in part or in full immediately, if the financial institution considers this justified on the basis of its own discretion. The decision to terminate the interest subsidy is also notified to the issuing financial institution.

The supervisory task also entails statutory obligations for the financial institution that granted the ASP interest subsidy loan. The financing institution provide the State Treasury with the information necessary to establish that the loan has been used for an approved purpose. For this reason, the financial institution must submit the data through electronic data transfer method to the State Treasury. A separate regulation is issued on electronic data transfers, which can be found in the Stipulations and instructions section. Information related to ASP interest subsidy loans must be submitted to the State Treasury on a monthly basis. The aim is to make the monitoring task more fluent and to ensure that the information on ASP interest subsidy loans is correct.

If the financial institution neglects the tasks assigned to it in relation to the transmission of information by electronic means, the State Treasury may impose a conditional fine under the law. The State Treasury may set a time limit within which electronic data transmission must be implemented and brought into compliance with the law and the regulations issued under it.