“About 30% of families had debts guaranteed by their principle residence, with this being the main type of families’ debt,” concludes the INE, based on the results of a survey of households’ financial situations carried out from March to July of 2013.

The sample used was the same as in a similar survey carried out in 2010, covering 8,000 family housing units used as a main residence.

The INE figures, which were released on Wednesday, show that in the second quarter of 2013 almost 46% of households had some debt, in an average amount of €48,500.

More than 30% of families had guaranteed a loan with their main residence and 3.7% had a mortgage on other property.

The average value of mortgage debt on families’ main residence was €63,700.