program focuses on applicants with incomes of one to two minimum wages

On April 24, 2026, the National Mortgage Creditl (CHN)announced that it surpassed the thousand financed homes through the program My First House.

Since its launch on October 31, 2024, the program has a fund of Q500 milliondesigned to facilitate the acquisition of housing for Guatemalan families, with an annual goal of more than 1,200 housing solutions.

As of April 29, 2026, the bank reports 1 thousand 033 loans disbursedwhich represents progress compared to the first months of operation.

Beneficiary profile

The people that make up the My First House program They are made up of applicants at different stages of the credit process, not only those who have already received the disbursement. According to him CHNthis universe integrates 2,189 files.

Percentage distribution of beneficiaries

Income, either individually or as a core:

• 49.57% win between 1 and 2 minimum wages

• 28.64% perceive between 2 and 3 minimum wages

Age:

• 41.43% has between 30 and 39 years

• 40.87% is located between 20 and 29 years

Marital status:

• 79.41% singles (according to DPI)

Location of interested parties:
Mainly in the departments of Guatemala, Jalapa and Chimaltenango. Although this means the current place of residence not necessarily the chosen location of the project.

As to incomethe majority of beneficiaries are concentrated in salary ranges

5% down payment, the main challenge

One of the main obstacles identified by the CHN authorities is the lack of resources for the hitchwhich leads many interested parties to opt for projects in plans, with deliveries scheduled for 2027 or later years.

This allows them to initiate early payments while completing the required amount.

Furthermore, the progress of the program has shown the need to expand the offer of social housing in Guatemalaespecially outside the metropolitan area.

Added to this is the perspective of the financial advisor Cesar Tanchezwho pointed out that the decision to purchase a home is not immediate. As indicated, this process can take at least a year, since it involves evaluating locations, organizing personal finances and complying with credit conditions.

An impact beyond numbers

For program applicants My First Housegather the hitch —equivalent to 5% of the total value of the home— remains a key requirement to advance in the credit process.

In practical terms, the amount of the down payment varies depending on the cost of the property: in more accessible options it can be around Q14 thousand, while in projects located in higher-income housing sectors within the economic segment it can reach up to Q35 thousanddirectly affecting the purchasing capacity of the beneficiaries.

However, one of the main attractions of the program is that this initial contribution is more accessible compared to traditional mortgage loanswhere the required percentages are usually higher, which makes it easier for families with limited income to enter.

Bank authorities emphasize that each loan granted represents an opportunity for development. Exceeding one thousand financed homes not only reflects the institutional growth of the program, but also the access of more families to a own assets.

From a slow start to sustained growth

The beginning of the program was marked by doubts. Six months after its launch, they had barely been disbursed 85 creditswhich generated questions from different sectors.

In an interview in 2025, Sergio Mario Silva Lorenzanapresident of the Board of Directors of CHNexplained that, although the disbursements seemed low, the files in process already exceeded the 1 thousand 500 cases. He explained that the delays responded to administrative processes, compliance with requirements, payment of the down payment and validations with other institutions such as the Institute for the Promotion of Insured Mortgages (FHA.)

By December 2025, the outlook already showed an improvement: 583 loans disbursed and 763 in advanced stageswhich marked a change in the dynamics of the program.

850 more homes on the way

The program maintains a robust pipeline in progress. Currently, the following are counted:

• 459 files pending payment

• 91 in the writing phase

• 306 in the process of completing documentation

This implies that, in the coming months, the program could reach close to 1,900 homes deliveredconsidering cases in more advanced stages.

The pace has also improved: the bank reports a monthly average of between 80 and 100 disbursementscompared to the barely 14 monthly registered in the first six months

Revolving funds and program sustainability

“The financial scheme of My First House It works like a revolving fund. Each payment from the beneficiaries allows the program to be recapitalized and expand its scope,” the Bank authorities explain to this medium.

This is how, although the initial fund is Q500 million annuallyits sustainability depends on the recovery of credits to have the capacity to continue financing new homes.