Published on 24 October 2026

Mortgages in the DRC in 2026: how to finance an apartment

Mortgages in the DRC in 2026: how to finance an apartment

A mortgage in the DRC is possible, but it remains rare, expensive and open only to certain profiles. According to Mbote (January 2026), many foreign buyers pay 70% to 100% of an apartment's price upfront, precisely because home loans are very limited. In 2026, two pieces of news change the picture a little: the Central Bank of Congo lowered its policy rate, and bank lending is growing. Here are the real options for financing an apartment in Kinshasa, how to compare them, and a simple example of a monthly budget.

This article gives general information. It is not financial advice. Before you commit, discuss your situation with your bank and an independent adviser.

Getting a mortgage in the DRC to buy in Kinshasa

In many countries, buying a home with a 20 or 25 year loan is the norm. In Kinshasa, the situation is different. Banks mostly lend in dollars, over shorter periods (10 years, or 120 months, is the most common maximum, sometimes 15 years), and ask for a deposit of about 20% to 30% and solid guarantees. According to the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa (CAHF), mortgages remain scarce and limited to a few well established customers, and most buyers pay cash.

In practice, most buyers combine several sources:

• their personal savings;
• transfers from family or the diaspora;
• a payment plan offered by the developer during construction;
• sometimes a bank loan, for only part of the price.

The right mix depends on your income, how stable it is, the country you live in and the timetable of the project you have in mind.

Interest rates in 2026

On 17 July 2026, the Central Bank of Congo lowered its policy rate from 13.5% to 12.5%, according to Capmad (July 2026). It was still 25% in October 2025. On 8 October 2026, the Central Bank held it at 12.5%, according to Financial Afrik. The policy rate is the rate at which the central bank lends to banks. When it falls, banks can, in principle, lend more cheaply to their customers.

But Capmad points out that this cut has not yet been fully passed on to the rates banks charge. In other words, a policy rate of 12.5% does not mean you will get a mortgage at 12.5%. The rates offered to individuals depend on each bank, the currency of the loan (dollar or Congolese franc), the length of the loan and your profile. CAHF reports mortgage rates of between 12% and 25% a year. For example, in 2025 Equity BCDC offered a loan at 1% a month (12% a year) over 10 years for apartments in the Cité Jardin de Kinshasa, according to 7sur7.cd.

Another sign to watch: according to mediacongo, bank lending in the DRC reached 11.3 billion dollars at the end of June 2026. Credit is therefore growing, but housing is only a very small part of it: according to CAHF, total outstanding mortgages were only 106.1 million dollars in 2019, or 0.21% of GDP.

What banks ask for

Each bank has its own rules. We do not recommend any particular bank. Here are the points banks generally look at, and that you should prepare for. Always confirm the exact terms with the bank you choose.

• Your deposit: The bank often asks you to pay a large part of the price with your own funds. According to CAHF, at least one bank requires a 30% deposit.
• Your income: Payslips, an employment contract, bank statements over several months. Regular income paid into an account at the same bank makes your application easier. For example, Rawbank's Credit Chez Moi is for borrowers aged 20 to 55, employed for at least one year by a company approved by the bank.
• Your debt ratio: The monthly payment must not exceed a certain share of your income. For the Cité Jardin offer, Equity BCDC accepted monthly payments of up to 40% of income.
• The guarantee: A mortgage on the property, a personal guarantee, or other guarantees depending on the bank.
• The property: The bank checks that the property title is in order. An apartment in a well documented project, with a clear title, is easier to finance.
• The length of the loan: Loan periods are often shorter than in Europe or North America, which increases the monthly payment.

Also plan for the cost of the mortgage itself: according to the Ministry of Land Affairs, registering it costs 1% of the amount secured, plus a few fixed fees. For legal questions (mortgage, title, loan agreement), have the documents reviewed by a notary or a lawyer.

The developer's payment plan

When you buy off plan or during construction, many developers in Kinshasa let you pay in instalments. This is not credit in the banking sense: you pay the price in stages, usually during the works, and you receive the keys once payment is complete.

An example published on mediacongo in July 2026 gives an idea of this type of offer: new 2 to 4 bedroom apartments in la Gombe, with a 60% deposit and 40% paid over 6 months. Each developer and each project has its own terms.

At Safricode, for projects under construction, the usual plan is a down payment of about 30%, with the balance spread over time. The exact terms vary by project: ask the sales team for the current schedule on WhatsApp at +243 991 977 779 or at info@safricode.com. Safricode also works with banks. At Expo Béton 2025, it presented a loan example with Rawbank: an initial deposit of 9,900 $ followed by monthly payments from 1,082 $ over 10 years. In September 2026, Safricode also signed a partnership with Equity BCDC to finance its eligible clients, including those in the diaspora. Our article on payment plans in Kinshasa explains in detail how they work.

The advantages: no bank application, no bank interest, and a payment schedule linked to the progress of the works. The limits: the period is short, so the monthly amounts are high, and you must check the developer carefully, because you pay before delivery.

Comparing the options

Option	Advantages	Limits	Best for
Personal savings	No interest, no application available	You need the funds	Buyers who are already well prepared
Diaspora transfers	Flexibility, family support	Depends on transfers, transfer fees	Families with relatives abroad
Developer payment plan	No bank interest, payments linked to the works	Short period, high monthly payments	Off plan buyers with a good deposit
Bank loan	Spreads the cost over several years	High rates, deposit and guarantees required	Employees with stable income paid into the bank
Combination	Adapts the plan to your situation	Needs good organisation	Most buyers

To compare two options, do not look only at the monthly payment. Work out the total cost: what you will have paid in the end, including interest, application fees, insurance and purchase costs. According to Mbote (January 2026), purchase costs add about 10% to 13% to the price. The World Bank (Doing Business 2020) reached a similar figure, 10.1% of the property's value, including an official registration duty of 3%.

If you live abroad, also read our guide to buying property in Congo from abroad.

Example of a monthly budget

Here is a purely theoretical example, to show how to think it through. The figures do not match any Safricode project or the offer of any particular bank.

Take an apartment at 150,000 $ (as an example). According to Mbote (January 2026), the total budget for a standard apartment in Kinshasa is between 77,000 $ and 340,000 $, so this example falls within that range.

Purchase costs: 10% to 13% according to Mbote, or about 15,000 $ to 19,500 $, to plan for in every case.

Scenario A: bank loan

• Deposit of 30%: 45,000 $ (assumption)
• Amount borrowed: 105,000 $
• Assumed rate: 15% a year (assumption, within the 12% to 25% range reported by CAHF; ask your bank for the actual rate)
• Length: 10 years

Assumed length and rate	Approximate monthly payment	Approximate total repaid
10 years at 15%	1,694 $	203,300 $
7 years at 15%	2,026 $	170,200 $
10 years at 12%	1,506 $	180,800 $

These calculations include neither insurance nor application fees. You can see that interest weighs heavily: over 10 years at 15%, you would repay about 98,000 $ more than the amount borrowed.

Scenario B: payment plan on the 60/40 model

• Deposit of 60%: 90,000 $
• Balance of 40% over 6 months: 60,000 $, or 10,000 $ a month
• No bank interest

The monthly payment is much higher, but over a very short period, and the total cost stays at the price of the apartment plus purchase costs.

What the example shows

A payment plan costs less in total, but it needs a lot of cash over a short time. A bank loan reduces the monthly effort, but it costs much more over time. Many buyers combine the two: savings and family transfers for the deposit, then a schedule that fits for the balance.

To see real prices by district, read our article on the price of an apartment in Kinshasa in 2026, and to estimate the return on a rental purchase, read our real estate investment guide 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How much deposit should I plan for?

It depends on the bank or the payment plan you choose. With a bank loan, plan in general for a deposit of 20% to 30%, sometimes more for a non resident. With a payment plan, the deposit can be high, as in the 60% example published on mediacongo. In every case, add 10% to 13% in purchase costs, according to Mbote.

Can a non resident get a loan?

It is harder, because banks prefer income paid into an account with them and guarantees in the country. This is one reason why, according to Mbote, many foreign buyers pay 70% to 100% upfront. Some banks do have offers for the diaspora, such as Equity BCDC's Pret Immo Diaspora; Equity BCDC has been a Safricode partner since September 2026, and you can ask the bank directly for its terms. A payment plan with the developer is still often easier to set up from abroad.

Loan or payment plan: which should I choose?

If you have a lot of cash available in the short term, a payment plan usually costs less in total. If your income is stable but your savings are limited, a loan can help, at the price of high interest. Always compare the total cost, and ask your bank and an independent adviser for guidance.

Let's build your financing plan

Every buyer's situation is different: income in the DRC or abroad, available savings, family support, timing of the purchase. Our team can present the payment options available on our projects and help you build a realistic timetable.

Reminder: this article is general information and is not financial advice. The rates and conditions mentioned are examples: always ask the institutions concerned for their current offer.

Sources

• Capmad, RDC: la Banque centrale du Congo abaisse son taux directeur à 12,5% pour prolonger l'assouplissement monétaire (July 2026)
• mediacongo, Les crédits bancaires atteignent 11,3 milliards USD à fin juin 2026
• Mbote, Combien coûte un appartement à Kinshasa en 2026 (January 2026)
• mediacongo, property listings (example of payment of 60% and 40% over 6 months, July 2026)
• Financial Afrik, the Central Bank holds its policy rate (October 2026)
• CAHF, DRC housing finance profile
• CAHF, Housing Finance in Africa, DRC (2025)
• 7sur7.cd, Cité Jardin de Kinshasa and Equity BCDC mortgage (July 2025)
• Rawbank, Credit Chez Moi
• Ministry of Land Affairs, fee table (mortgage registration)
• World Bank, Doing Business 2020, DRC, registering property
• Safricode, Expo Béton 2025 (Rawbank loan example)
• Safricode, KBM Kolwezi (30% down payment)
• Bankable, Safricode and EquityBCDC partnership (September 2026)
• actualite.cd, Equity BCDC and Safricode (September 2026)