IMT Jovem and the state guarantee: buying your first home at 35 or under
PARCERIA ER · Comprar casa · atualizado em 2026-11-02
If you are 35 or under and are buying your first home to live in, two measures can make a big difference: the exemption from IMT (property transfer tax) and Stamp Duty (Imposto do Selo) and the state guarantee that allows the bank to lend up to 100% of the value.
IMT Jovem: who is entitled
- being 35 or under on the date of purchase;
- not being considered a dependant on someone else's IRS (income tax) return;
- the purchase being your first permanent own home;
- not owning, nor having owned in the last 3 years, a residential property.
If two people buy together and only one meets the rules, the exemption applies to that person's share.
How much you save in 2026
- homes up to 330.539 €: full exemption from IMT and from Stamp Duty on the purchase;
- between 330.539 € and 660.982 €: you only pay 8% IMT (and 0,8% Stamp Duty) on the part above 330.539 €;
- above 660.982 €: no exemption.
On a 300.000 € home, this means a saving of around 13.000 € (IMT + Stamp Duty). Note: Stamp Duty on the mortgage (0,6%) is still payable.
The proposed 2027 State Budget plans to raise these limits to around 338.141 € and 676.185 €. This will only apply once approved.
State guarantee: financing up to 100%
Normally, the bank only lends up to 90% of the value of the home. With the state guarantee, the State guarantees up to 15% of the loan, which allows the bank to finance the full amount. The main conditions:
- aged between 18 and 35 and tax resident in Portugal;
- income up to the 8th IRS bracket;
- no debts to the Tax Authority (Finanças) or Social Security;
- home worth up to 450.000 €, as a first permanent own home;
- not owning another home;
- mortgage contract signed by 31 December 2026 (the report on the proposed 2027 State Budget says the guarantee will continue, but the extension has not yet been formalised).
The guarantee does not replace the bank's assessment: you still need an acceptable debt-to-income ratio and must meet each lender's criteria.
In summary
- Check the conditions before making an offer.
- If you want to use the state guarantee, time is short: for now, the contract must be signed in 2026.
- Talk to a credit intermediary to find out which banks are accepting it and on what terms.
