Even if you’re a low- or middle-income Filipino, you, too, can afford to build or buy your own home. The government-mandated Home Development Mutual Fund, more popularly known as the Pag-IBIG Fund, gives its contributing members the power to finance their home purchase at a more affordable rate, as compared to the rates offered by real estate developers and banks. So you don’t have to worry about facing high interest rates and paying high amortization every month.

Many Filipinos long to have their own home. It may seem impossible, what with basic goods getting more and more expensive by the day. However, you can turn this dream into a reality with the help of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), commonly known as the Pag-IBIG Fund. Its main service, the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan, can be used for various purposes such as purchasing a house to making home improvements.

What is the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan?

Established in 1978, the Home Development Mutual Fund or the Pag-IBIG Housing Fund^[1], is a government-owned agency under the Human Settlements and Urban Development department. It manages the national savings program and offers affordable house financing for Filipinos. You can get a housing loan from Pag-IBIG as an alternative to mortgages offered by banks. Below are the two housing loan programs offered by Pag-IBIG:

End-User Financing Program

This is the Pag-IBIG Fund’s regular housing loan program. Under this program, Filipinos can borrow up to PHP 6 million for a housing loan. You can also get multiple loans and apply with a co-borrower.

Affordable Housing Program

The Affordable Housing Program, on the other hand, caters to low and minimum wage earners. With this loan, you can borrow up to PHP 750,000 with a repayment period of up to 30 years.

Different Purposes of Pag-IBIG Housing Loan

Apart from buying your dream house, you can get a Pag-IBIG housing loan for the following purposes:

• Purchase a residential house and lot, condo unit, or townhouse
• Buy a fully developed residential lot or adjoining lots of not more than 1,000 square meters
• Home improvement or alteration of an existing unit which will improve the house’s durability and value
• Construction or completion of a residential unit
• Refinance an existing mortgage with an institution acceptable to the Pag-IBIG Fund
• And to combine loan purposes, limited to:
  – Purchasing a fully developed lot of up to 1,000 square meters and building of a residential unit thereon
  – Purchasing an old or new residential unit with home improvement
  – Refinancing an existing home loan with home improvement
  – Refinancing an existing mortgage, particularly a lot loan, with the construction of a residential unit thereon

Pag-IBIG Housing Loan Eligibility

To be eligible for a Pag-IBIG housing loan, you should have the following:

• Remittance of monthly contributions for 24 months under Pag-IBIG I, Pag-IBIG II, or Pag-IBIG Overseas Program. If you have less than the required number of contributions, you can make a lump sum payment as long as you have been a contributing member for at least a year
• You are not more than 65 years old by the time of loan application
• You are not more than 70 years at loan maturity
• Passed satisfactory checks Pag-IBIG
• Has no outstanding Pag-IBIG loan in arrears
• Had no foreclosed, canceled, or bought back Pag-IBIG Housing Loan due to default or was subjected to dacion en pago^[2]. This includes cases where a borrower no longer wants to process the loan ultimately surrendering the property.

Pag-IBIG Housing Loan Requirements for Application

• Completed Housing Loan Application (HLA) form^[3]
• Recent ID photo of borrower and co-borrower, if applicable
• Proof of income
• One valid ID of primary borrower and spouse or and co-borrower and spouse, if applicable
• Photocopy of Birth Certificate, if single
• Photocopy of Marriage Certificate, if married
• Certified true copy of Transfer Certificate Title
• Transfer Certificate of the land and certified true copy of the Condominium Certificate of Title (for condo units)
• Tax declaration and updated real estate tax receipt
• Contract-to-Sell or a similar agreement between the buyer and seller
• Sketch of the property or vicinity map
• Health statement for borrowers over 60 years old and members availing of PHP 2 million to PHP 6 million housing loans

Pag-IBIG requires other documents and fulfillment based on the purpose of the housing loan. Visit the Pag-IBIG Fund website to learn more about the different requirements.

Pag-IBIG Housing Loan Interest Rates and Term Periods

The interest rate for Pag-IBIG’s regular housing loan is 5.375% per annum under a one-year repricing period and 6.375% for a three-year repricing period. Currently, the Fund is offering a special rate of 4.985% for a one-year repricing period and 5.375% under a three-year repricing period^[4]. However, these special rates are only offered until December 31, 2020.

For the Affordable Housing Program, the interest rate is at 3% per annum. This program is offered to low and minimum wage earners.

The maximum loan repayment term offered by Pag-IBIG is 30 years. However, you should not be more than 70 years old by the time of loan maturity.

How to Apply for a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan

Here are the steps to follow when applying for a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan:

1. Complete the requirements

Apart from the general eligibility and requirements, the documents needed depends on the purpose of your housing loan. Complete the specific checklist that applies to your purpose.

2. Submit your HLA and pay the processing fee

Once you’ve gathered all the requirements, fill out your HLA and submit it to the nearest Pag-IBIG Fund office. You can also file your housing loan application online, via Virtual Pag-IBIG. Pay the PHP 1,000 processing fee upon submitting your requirements.

3. Wait for the Notice of Approval (NOA)

Your NOA will be given only to you. If you’re an OFW borrower, it can be released to your attorney-in-fact. You have 90 days to sign your loan documents once you receive your NOA. If your application is rejected, you will get a Notice of Disapproval instead.

4. Submit your NOA requirements

Before Pag-IBIG releases your check, you need to accomplish the following NOA requirements:

• Pay for capital gains tax and documentary stamps at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
• Pay for transfer tax and transfer of tax declaration at the local government unit
• Go to the Registry of Deeds for transfer of the title and annotation of mortgage

You have 90 calendar days to accomplish these steps.

5. Get your loan proceeds

You can receive your loan proceeds at the Pag-IBIG fund. Bring at least two valid IDS and present the following documents:

• Transfer Certificate of Title or Condominium Certificate of Title in your name with mortgage annotation
• Updated tax declaration and tax real estate receipt in your name
• Occupancy permit
• Assignment of loan proceeds
• 12 post-dated checks if you will not be paying your Pag-IBIG Housing Loan through salary deduction

How to Pay for Your Pag-IBIG Housing Loan

You can pay your monthly Pag-IBIG Housing Loan payments through the following:

• Salary deduction through Employer Collect Servicing Agreement (CSA)
• Post-dated checks
• Auto debit arrangement with banks
• Payment to an accredited Developer with CSA with the Fund
• Accredited local and overseas collection partners

Tips Before Applying for a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan

Before applying for a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan, consider the following tips to increase your chance of loan approval:

Settle overdue Pag-IBIG loan payments

If you have an outstanding Pag-IBIG loan, you may not be eligible for a housing loan from the Fund. Pay off your overdue loan payments before submitting an HLA.

You should also keep track of your contribution remittance. Double-check if you’ve made made at least 24 months of contributions before applying for a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan. If not, you can make a lump sum payment for your contribution if you have been a Pag-IBIG member for at least 12 months.

Have a stable source of income

Your income source plays a huge role in your housing loan application. The Fund will evaluate if you are financially stable and can afford to pay your monthly mortgages. Ideally, you should have a steady stream of income for at least two years before applying for this loan.

Be realistic

Assess your finances to figure out how much you can realistically shell out for your monthly mortgage payment. It shouldn’t exceed 30% of your gross monthly income. For example, if your gross pay is PHP 45,000 a month, your monthly home loan payment shouldn’t be more than PHP 13,500.

Additionally, you should be realistic about the type of house you want. If you have a family with only three members, perhaps a 6-bedroom home isn’t the best choice. If you want to live in the heart of the metro, you can settle for a condo unit instead. Knowing your housing needs can help you estimate the amount you need to borrow to purchase a home.

Get all your documents in order

Double—and even triple—check your documents. Make sure you have all the requirements, and there are no errors in them. Do this before submitting your HLA to avoid going back and forth to the Pag-IBIG office. Use the Pag-IBIG checklist to ensure you have all that you need for the housing loan application.

Take care of your credit score

Pay off your credit card and other loan debts. If you have any delinquency in your credit history, you’re less likely to get approved for a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan, or any loan for that matter.

Apply with a co-borrower

If you have an unstable source of income or it isn’t enough to qualify for a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan, consider applying with a co-borrower. However, they must have a stable source of income and a spotless credit history to improve your chance of getting your loan approved.

Pag-IBIG allows two or three members, including the primary borrower, who are up to second-degree relatives to apply for a housing loan. However, this only applies to the End-User Financing Program.

Final Thoughts

A Pag-IBIG Housing Loan can help you purchase your dream house. Before submitting your application, ensure that you are qualified and have the documents required. You should also crunch the number and figure out how much you can afford for the monthly mortgage payments. If you can’t afford the home loan on your own, consider getting a co-borrower. Always pay your loan repayments on time to avoid the risk of your home loan getting canceled or your property being foreclosed