Banguat's average housing-loan rate was 9.41% in quetzales and 7.61% in dollars in August 2026 (preliminary). Published offers, read 8 October 2026: BAM 7.2% (Bam Hogar, from 20% down), G&T Continental 7.26% combined on its FHA loan (from 5% down) and Banco Promerica from 8.50% in quetzales / from 8% in dollars. Closing costs and insurance come on top: compare the total annual cost, not just the headline rate.
A mortgage (prestamo hipotecario) in Guatemala costs far less than other household credit. Banguat’s average rate on bank housing loans was 9.41% in quetzales in August 2026, against 18.77% for other consumer loans and 47.19% for credit cards (August), and 13.07% for the system’s loans overall excluding credit cards (September). Published terms run up to 25-30 years at the banks that state one.
Two paths exist: conventional mortgages (BAM’s Bam Hogar from 20% down; Promerica finances 80% of the appraisal) and FHA-insured mortgages (from 5% down per FHA, based on FHA’s valuation; G&T Continental finances up to Q3 million). This page sets out what each bank publishes so you can shortlist before applying.
What Each Bank Publishes
Rates as printed on each bank’s own site, read 8 October 2026. “From” rates are floors; the bank sets your rate on your profile, down payment, term and currency. Closing costs come on top; insurance too, unless the bank says its rate includes it (BAM does).
| Bank | Published rate | Down payment / financing | Term | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAM (Bam Hogar) | 7.2% a year (life, fire and damage insurance included, per BAM) | From 20% | Up to 30 years | bam.com.gt, Bam Hogar page |
| G&T Continental (FHA) | 6% variable + 1% FHA mortgage insurance + 0.26% credit-life insurance = 7.26% combined | From 5% (or as FHA authorises); up to Q3 million | Up to 30 years | gtc.com.gt, FHA housing page |
| Banco Promerica | From 8.50% (quetzales), from 8% (dollars) | 80% of appraisal value | Up to 25 years | bancopromerica.com.gt |
| Banco Industrial | Not captured | — | — | — |
| Banrural (Crédito Amigo Mi Casa) | Not published (no figure on the page) | — | Up to 30 years | banrural.com.gt |
| G&T Continental (investment housing) | Not published | 20% | Up to 15 years | gtc.com.gt, investment housing page |
| BAC Credomatic, Bantrab, Ficohsa | Not captured | — | — | — |
System average for comparison: Banguat’s average rate on bank housing loans was 9.41% in quetzales and 7.61% in dollars in August 2026 (preliminary; Cuadros V.4 and V.5, column Actividades Inmobiliarias, Vivienda). If you earn in quetzales, a dollar loan adds exchange-rate risk: match the loan currency to the currency you earn. Full detail and the 2026 monthly series: Mortgage rates by bank (Banguat data).
Correction (5 October 2026): earlier versions of this page showed APR ranges, LTV, terms and FHA availability for eight banks with no source. They were replaced with the rates banks publish themselves and Banguat’s average.
How Mortgages Work in Guatemala
The rate is only part of the cost. Here is what the banks themselves publish about the rest (read 8 October 2026):
- Down payment (enganche). BAM from 20%; G&T Continental FHA from 5% (or as FHA authorises); Promerica finances 80% of the appraisal. FHA’s own site lists from 5% down, based on the value FHA assigns to the home.
- Insurance. BAM says its 7.2% includes life insurance and fire and damage insurance, and lists an annual charge for each among its associated costs. G&T Continental’s FHA rate adds 1% FHA mortgage insurance and 0.26% credit-life insurance on top of the 6% interest. Banrural makes credit-life (saldo deudor) insurance mandatory for foreigners.
- Bank commissions. Banrural’s Crédito Amigo Mi Casa page publishes a commission table by loan amount: from 0.83%-3.00% on Q500-Q20,000 down to 0.62%-1.00% on Q200,000.01-Q500,000, and up to 0.25% above Q500,000. BAM points you to its tariff schedule for other charges.
- Property paperwork. BAM asks, once you are eligible, for a commercial appraisal by an authorised valuer, a cadastre or street-number certification and the last paid IUSI (property tax) receipt. Notary, registry and appraisal fees are not published on the product pages; get a written quote.
Monthly payment math (arithmetic only, applying each rate as published; insurance is included where the lender says so: BAM says its 7.2% includes life, fire and damage insurance, and G&T Continental’s 7.26% includes FHA and credit-life insurance). A Q800,000 mortgage over 20 years:
- At BAM’s published 7.2%: about Q6,299 a month
- At G&T Continental’s 7.26% combined FHA rate: about Q6,328
- At Banguat’s 9.41% August system average: about Q7,410
The gap between 7.2% and 9.41% is about Q1,111 a month, or roughly Q266,700 more interest over 20 years. Shopping the rate matters.
How to Choose a Mortgage
1. Ask 2-3 banks for an offer before house hunting. Compare what each bank offers: the published rates above already differ by more than one point.
2. Decide currency carefully. Match loan currency to income currency. If you earn quetzales, a dollar loan adds exchange-rate risk for the whole term. Banguat’s August 2026 averages were 9.41% in quetzales and 7.61% in dollars; Promerica publishes floors in both (8.50% and 8%).
3. Compare the total cost, not the headline rate. G&T Continental’s FHA page shows why: 6% interest becomes 7.26% once FHA insurance and credit-life insurance are added. Ask every bank for the total annual cost in writing, in the same format.
4. Ask whether a larger down payment changes the rate. Run both scenarios with each bank before you commit cash.
5. Read the prepayment clause. BAM publishes a 2% penalty on payments to principal above 30% of the balance. If you might prepay (inheritance, asset sale, refinance), ask: ¿Hay comisión por pago anticipado total o parcial? ¿Hasta qué año?
6. Ask about FHA. FHA works through approved banks; for an existing home, FHA says the key requirement is to request its valuation of the property.
7. Check the property’s title before applying. Before you pay any application costs, you can ask a lawyer to pull a current certificate from the Registro de la Propiedad and check it for liens (gravamenes), embargos and annotations. For its own-lot construction product, FHA requires the land to be fully paid and free of liens, annotations and limitations.
Required Documents
What the banks list on their own pages (read 8 October 2026):
| Document | BAM (Bam Hogar) | G&T Continental (FHA) | Banrural (Mi Casa) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ID | Full DPI copy; passport copy for foreigners | DPI copy | DPI; foreigners: valid passport, DPI rosado if resident |
| NIT | NIT and/or RTU card copy | NIT card copy | Not listed |
| Utility bill | Yes (water, power or phone) | Yes | Yes, recent |
| Proof of income | No older than three months | Recent, original | Income certificate and pay slips |
| Bank statements | Last three months, signed and stamped | Last three months | Not listed |
| Property | Photos; seller’s sale-commitment letter; then appraisal, cadastre certification, last IUSI receipt; on approval, the sale minuta | Not listed | Not listed |
| Non-residents / foreigners | Mandate with representation and special clause | Not listed | Work certificate or proof of work at an international organisation; mandatory credit-life insurance |
| Self-employed / companies | Business licence, signed financial statements for the last two periods, client and supplier list, commercial report | Not listed | Not listed |
Processing time: none of the banks we read publishes one. Ask when you apply.
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Related Steps
- Get your NIT first — BAM and G&T Continental both list a NIT copy.
- RTU registration — BAM asks for NIT and/or RTU.
- Best banks for foreigners — build a relationship with the bank before applying.
- Best banks Guatemala (blog) — head-to-head bank comparison.
- Cost of living in Guatemala — match property value to a comfortable monthly payment.
- Personal loans comparison — for renovations after closing.
- Today’s USD/Q exchange rate — relevant for currency choice on the loan.
For Diaspora
None of the bank pages read on 8 October 2026 offers a separate mortgage product for non-residents; BAM’s Bam Hogar page does provide for a non-resident borrower, who must present a mandato con representación with a special clause. Other paths:
- Cash purchase. If you have the funds in the US, sending them as a wire transfer avoids qualifying for a Guatemalan mortgage at all.
- Family member as borrower. A parent or sibling with Guatemalan income takes the mortgage; you help with the down payment and monthly payments via remittances. Use a written agreement and get legal advice on whose name goes on the title.
- Build the bank relationship first. Open an account and build a history with the bank before you apply, and ask it in writing what it requires from non-residents. BAM, for example, asks a non-resident borrower for a mandate with representation and a special clause.
- Financing in the US. If you own US property, a US home-equity loan is another option; compare its rate with the Guatemalan ones above.
Bank rates and requirements on this page are as published on the banks’ own sites and on fha.gob.gt, read 8 October 2026; the system averages are Banguat’s (Cuadros V.4/V.5, August 2026, preliminary; imm04, September 2026). Always confirm the actual rate, total annual cost, closing costs and prepayment clause directly with the bank before signing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average mortgage rate in Guatemala 2026?
Banguat’s average rate on bank housing loans was 9.41% in quetzales and 7.61% in dollars in August 2026 (preliminary; Cuadros V.4 and V.5). Rates banks publish on their own sites (read 8 October 2026): BAM 7.2% (Bam Hogar); G&T Continental 7.26% combined on its FHA loan (6% variable + 1% FHA insurance + 0.26% credit-life insurance); Banco Promerica from 8.50% in quetzales and from 8% in dollars. Always ask for the total annual cost including all insurance and fees.
What is the minimum down payment for a mortgage in Guatemala?
It depends on the product. As published on 8 October 2026: BAM’s Bam Hogar from 20%; G&T Continental’s FHA loan from 5% (or as FHA authorises); G&T Continental’s investment-property loan 20%; Banco Promerica lends 80% of the commercial appraisal. FHA says its system allows from 5% down, based on the value FHA assigns to the home. No bank we read publishes a separate down payment for non-residents.
What is the maximum mortgage term in Guatemala?
It depends on the bank and product. As published on 8 October 2026: BAM’s Bam Hogar, G&T Continental’s FHA loan and Banrural’s Crédito Amigo Mi Casa go up to 30 years; Banco Promerica up to 25 years; G&T Continental’s investment-property loan up to 15 years. Longer terms reduce the monthly payment but increase the total interest paid.
Can foreigners get a mortgage in Guatemala?
Two of the banks we read publish requirements for foreigners. Banrural’s Crédito Amigo Mi Casa asks foreigners for a valid passport, DPI rosado if resident, a work certificate or proof of work at an international organisation, a recent utility bill, and mandatory credit-life (saldo deudor) insurance. BAM accepts a passport copy from foreigners and asks a non-resident borrower for a mandate with representation and a special clause (mandato con representación y cláusula especial). Ask each bank for its full list in writing.
What is FHA and who qualifies?
FHA is the Instituto de Fomento de Hipotecas Aseguradas. Per its website, it backs loans granted by approved financial entities through mortgage insurance (prima FHA, 1%) and credit-life insurance (0.26%). For an existing home, the key requirement is to ask FHA to value the property; FHA lists from 5% down (based on its valuation), terms up to 30 years and payment-capacity analysis by family nucleus. The loan itself is made by an approved bank, such as G&T Continental’s FHA loan.
Can I pay off a Guatemalan mortgage early?
Check the contract. BAM’s Bam Hogar page lists a 2% penalty on payments to principal that exceed 30% of the loan balance. The other banks we read (read 8 October 2026) do not publish a prepayment clause on their product pages, so ask: ‘Hay comision por pago anticipado o pago extraordinario?’
What documents do I need for a Guatemalan mortgage?
BAM’s Bam Hogar list (read 8 October 2026) includes the credit application with a statement of assets, a full DPI copy (passport for foreigners), a utility bill, bank statements for the last three months signed and stamped by the issuing bank, NIT and/or RTU, photos of the property, proof of income no older than three months, and a sale-commitment letter from the seller. Once eligible: a commercial appraisal by an authorised valuer, a cadastre or street-number certification and the last paid IUSI receipt. G&T Continental’s FHA list is shorter: DPI, NIT, a utility bill, recent proof of income and three months of bank statements.
