According to the BdP, 70% of new contracts are expected to extend until applicants are 70 years old or older, which worries the BdP.

The warning comes at a time when incomes may decrease after leaving the job market, which can increase the risk of non-payment. Thus, the BdP supervisor has recommended that loan terms not exceed 30 years to avoid this type of exposure.

However, the Portuguese reality is different from the recommendation. In 2025, the average term of new mortgage loans was 32 years, two years above the recommended term and seven years above the European average.

The BdP also reveals that longer loan repayment terms are increasing. Overall, contracts with terms of 30 to 40 years represent 60% of all new loans, with financing terms of 37 to 40 years particularly prominent.

The lengthening of terms is explained by the greater number of young people resorting to credit, fully financed by the State, which can be requested at age 35.