Mortgage FAQ

A mortgage referral service provides independent advice comparing plans across banks to find the most suitable product. If you run the application yourself, we don't charge you anything, and we aren't tied to any one bank, so we can negotiate the best terms on your behalf.

Completely free if you run the application yourself, plus a referral rebate: our commission is paid directly by partner banks and shared with you. If you'd like one of our people to take over a complex case, the referral rebate may be reduced or not apply, and a consultancy service fee may also be charged (generally 2–5% of the loan amount, depending on the complexity of the case) — always quoted in advance and only charged once you confirm and the mortgage is successfully drawn down through us.

Since 2024-10-16 the HKMA has standardised the LTV cap at 70% — regardless of property value, regardless of whether the flat is owner-occupied or let out, and regardless of any other mortgages you already hold. To borrow above that on a private property you generally need the HKMC Mortgage Insurance Programme (MIP) (HOS / GSH flats have a separate Housing Authority guarantee), which is owner-occupied only: (1) property under HK$11.25M — if no mortgagor owns any Hong Kong residential property at application and all applicants are salaried, up to 90% (loan capped at HK$9M); (2) property under HK$17.15M — up to 80% (loan capped at HK$12M); (3) above HK$17.15M there is no mortgage insurance. The maximum loan tenor is 30 years. The actual ratio still depends on valuation, income proof and the bank's own approval.

If your current mortgage rate is above market, your penalty period has passed, or you want to unlock equity for other purposes (education, renovation, investment), refinancing is worth considering. Refinancing cases often come with bank cash rebates.

Second mortgages increase your monthly repayment burden. Poor cash-flow management may lead to default risk. Some second-mortgage providers are not licensed banks and may charge higher rates. We only refer to licensed, compliant institutions and explain all terms before application.

Private properties generally take 4–6 weeks (village houses the same); public housing / HOS flats can be as fast as 3–14 working days. Actual timing depends on the bank and whether your documents are complete.

The HKMA officially suspended the +2% stress test requirement on 2024-02-28, but banks still apply similar internal tests during approval. Since 16 October 2024 the DSR (debt servicing ratio) cap is a unified 50% and the maximum loan-to-value (LTV) a unified 70% — no split between self-occupied and rented, no tiering by property value, and the 10-point reduction for applicants who have borrowed or guaranteed other mortgages has been lifted. Above 70%, consider HKMC Mortgage Insurance (owner-occupied only). We pre-calculate this before you file — try our Stress Test Calculator for an instant assessment.

Yes. Self-employed, commission-based, or multi-source income applicants typically need to provide 1–2 years of tax returns, company financial statements, or bank statements. We know how each bank handles non-fixed income and match you with the most suitable lender.