In short
- Most state housing support in Latvia shrinks your down payment. It does not lower the interest rate.
- ALTUM guarantees cover families with children, young specialists up to 35 and professional soldiers.
- Large families can get the Balsts subsidy of 8,000 or 10,000 EUR.
- Outside Rīga and its neighbouring municipalities, ALTUM lends directly with a down payment from 5%.
What state housing support is available
A bank usually wants you to pay the down payment (pirmā iemaksa) from your own money, often around 20% of the price. State support for buying a home mostly helps with exactly that part: ALTUM, the state development finance institution, guarantees part of the loan to the bank, so the bank can lend you more.
All the programmes rest on Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 95 of 2018. According to ALTUM in October 2026, these options are available.
| Programme | Who it is for | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Guarantee for families with children | Families with a child up to 23 or expecting one | A guarantee of 5–50% of the loan, depending on the number of children and location |
| Guarantee for young specialists | Up to 35, with vocational secondary or higher education | Up to 20% of the loan, max 50,000 EUR |
| Guarantee for NBS soldiers | Professional service soldiers | Up to 25% of the loan, max 20,000 EUR |
| Balsts subsidy | Families with 3+ children or a child with a disability | 8,000 or 10,000 EUR you do not repay |
| Regional housing loan | Buyers outside Rīga and 7 neighbouring municipalities | An ALTUM loan up to 74,000 EUR with a down payment from 5% |
Which programme fits you
Start with one simple question: who are you in the programme's terms?
- You have a child or are expecting one. Your programme is the ALTUM guarantee for families. Outside Rīga, Jūrmala and the neighbouring municipalities the guarantee is much larger.
- You are 35 or younger and have a diploma. The guarantee for young specialists fits. You need no children and do not have to work in your field.
- You are a professional soldier. There is a separate guarantee for soldiers of the National Armed Forces (NBS).
- You have three or more children. You can add the Balsts subsidy to the guarantee if your income is under the limit and you own no other home.
- You are buying in the regions and the bank says no. Ask ALTUM about its regional loan.
Some programmes combine. A family with three children, for example, can get both a guarantee and the Balsts subsidy.
How much it changes the down payment
A guarantee is not a gift. It lets the bank lend more, but your loan grows and the guarantee has a fee. For families and soldiers it is a one-off 2.5% of the guarantee amount, according to ALTUM in October 2026.
In practice a guarantee lets you put down from 5% of the price instead of around 20%. On a median flat that cuts the sum you need to save several times over.
Municipal support and tax relief
Municipalities rarely give cash for buying a home. More often they offer real estate tax (NĪN) relief for families with children, rent support for specialists and co-financing for renovation paperwork in apartment buildings.
Where to start
- Work out which group you belong to: family, young specialist, soldier or large family
- Prepare proof of income and, if needed, your diploma or a service certificate
- Apply for a mortgage at an ALTUM partner bank and say straight away that you want a guarantee
- Check that the flat's price matches the market before the bank values it
- Budget for the guarantee fee and the other purchase costs
Common questions
Can I get state housing support without children?
Yes, if you are 35 or younger with vocational secondary or higher education (young specialist guarantee), or if you are a professional soldier.
Where do I apply for an ALTUM guarantee?
At the bank, when you apply for a mortgage. The bank sends the application to ALTUM itself, and the decision usually comes within 5 working days.
Do I have to repay the guarantee?
No, but you pay a fee for it. For families and soldiers it is a one-off 2.5% of the guarantee amount.
Can I get support a second time?
You can get a guarantee again once the previous one is no longer in force. The Balsts subsidy is available only once.
Sources
- Noteikumi par valsts palīdzību dzīvojamās telpas iegādei vai būvniecībai (MK noteikumi Nr. 95) · Likumi.lv
- Mājokļu garantija ģimenēm ar bērniem · ALTUM, 2026
- Balsts subsīdija · ALTUM, 2026
- Aizdevums mājokļa iegādei reģionos · ALTUM, 2026
This article is for information only and is not legal, financial or tax advice. It may contain mistakes or be out of date, so check it against official sources or with a specialist before you decide. m²cena accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of the information in this article.