Mortgage Disbursements Rise 22% as Ecuador's Housing Market Shows New Momentum

Ecuador's housing market is showing fresh signs of demand, especially through mortgage credit.

Primicias reports that mortgage-credit disbursements grew 22% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period of 2025, citing data from the Banco Central del Ecuador (BCE).

Private Credit Is Driving The Increase

According to Primicias, mortgage placements by banks, mutual societies and private cooperatives also rose 22% in the first quarter of 2026 versus the same period last year.

The Banco del Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social (BIESS) moved in the opposite direction. Primicias reports that BIESS represents 60% of the housing-loan portfolio, but its mortgage disbursements fell 8% in the same period.

BIESS And Subsidized Programs

Primicias reports that BIESS's Credicasa program, launched on January 27, 2026, had already disbursed USD 18 million and had 1,300 additional operations in process by the third week of May.

The article says Credicasa offers a 2.99% mortgage rate for qualifying affiliates and retirees. Listed requirements include a monthly salary of USD 1,527.94 and a single, first-use home costing no more than USD 71,504.70.

The broader market also improved. Primicias cites Housing Ministry data showing sector sales up 12.5% between January and February 2026 compared with the same period of 2025, plus a 16% increase in visits to real-estate projects and a 23% increase in net reservations.

What This Means For Expats

For foreign buyers, this is a demand signal. More mortgage movement can support new construction and liquidity, but it can also harden asking prices in active markets. If you are shopping, the useful move is to compare local inventory, ask how quickly units are actually reserving, and avoid assuming that last year's negotiating leverage still applies.

Source: Primicias