Family Mortgage Program Updates: New Rules from February 2026

From 1 February 2026, the rules for family mortgages are being updated. The program will continue to operate, but under new conditions: the procedure for applying for preferential loans and the approach to spousal responsibility are changing. For families with children, this is not a cancellation of support, but rather a need to approach purchase planning more carefully and understand the details in advance.

Who can use state support, which families fall under restrictions, and why consulting with a specialist today can save years and millions of rubles? We explore this together with mortgage broker from Akvilon Group Anna Shabanova.

Who Can Still Access the Family Mortgage?

Despite the changes, the family mortgage program remains. However, the circle of borrowers is now clearly defined. The benefit can be used by citizens of the Russian Federation. The maximum loan amount is 6 million rubles (about $66,700 at current rates), the term is up to 30 years, and the interest rate is 6% provided life and health insurance is taken. If insurance is declined, the interest rate typically increases.

The family mortgage is available both to complete families and to a single parent with a child. The key factor is the age of the children.

«If the child is already seven years old, using the mortgage is not possible,» emphasizes Anna Shabanova. «The exception is families with a disabled child: in this case, the program is valid until they reach 18 years of age.»

What Exactly Changes from February 2026?

If previously the program allowed for some flexibility, now the rules are becoming stricter. Until February 2026, spouses could take out two loans: one in the husband«s name and the second in the wife»s. Formally, this was considered permissible, and many in Severodvinsk used this option.

«However, now only one preferential mortgage is granted per family,» explains Anna Shabanova. «If one of the spouses has already used it, the second cannot do so — provided the family remains married. Even if the mortgage was issued only to one person, responsibility is now considered at the family level.»

What If the Mortgage Was Issued Earlier?

According to the mortgage broker from Akvilon Group, the key date is 23 December 2023. This is the very date that many are unaware of and constantly confuse.

«If a preferential mortgage was issued before this date, the conditions are softer, but still not universal,» explains Anna Shabanova. «Even after fully repaying a family mortgage, it is generally not possible to take out a new similar loan, except in situations where another child is born in the family and provided a larger apartment is purchased.»

For those who took out a preferential mortgage after 23 December 2023, the conditions are stricter: a repeat family mortgage is only possible if two conditions are met simultaneously — the birth of another child and the full closure of the previous loan.

How to Properly Use Maternal Capital?

Maternal capital can still be used as a down payment or part of it, as well as directed towards partial early loan repayment.

«In Arkhangelsk, we quite often see deals where maternal capital fully covers the initial down payment, especially when buying studios or small one-room apartments,» shares Anna Shabanova from her observations.

What Kind of Apartments Are Families Choosing in 2026?

Changes in the rules have directly influenced buyer behavior. Judging by the analytics of Akvilon Group, families are increasingly opting for apartments with larger square footage.

«People have started thinking strategically,» says the broker. «If before they bought »for now,« today they choose »for growth«: with extra space, a convenient layout, and proximity to kindergartens, schools, and infrastructure.»

In Akvilon Group«s projects, families more often find solutions that allow for efficient use of maternal capital thanks to well-thought-out and functional layouts and developed surroundings. Transport accessibility, proximity to social infrastructure, and a focus on family format make the developer»s properties a good investment and an excellent option for long-term living.

The Specialist«s Key Advice

Anna is convinced that when choosing an apartment and financing method, it is especially important to rely on verified information. In her observations, the number of inquiries from families who have already faced rejections or missed opportunities due to incorrect decisions has noticeably increased. Most often, people act based on fragmented data from social media, not considering individual limitations and changes in rules.

«There really is a lot of information, and it is often contradictory,» says Anna. «The most reliable path is to come to the developer»s mortgage broker. We work directly with banks and see changes first.«

As a result, consultation with a specialist becomes not a formality, but a tool that helps assess risks in advance, choose the optimal property, and structure the deal to preserve the right to a preferential mortgage and avoid overpaying in the future.

Why Is It Important to Understand the New Conditions Now?

The family mortgage in 2026 remains one of the few truly working tools for supporting families with children. However, the program«s rules have become more structured, meaning the cost of error has grown.

Experts note that in such conditions, those who win are not those who rush, but those who act consciously and calculate scenarios in advance, taking into account family composition, future plans, and specific real estate objects.

«Each situation is individual. There are no universal solutions here. Therefore, the main advice is not to try to figure it out alone. Come, tell us your situation, and we will select the optimal option,» summarizes Anna Shabanova.

Akvilon Group is not only a reliable developer with an excellent reputation but also a company with a large staff of experienced specialists on mortgage issues and housing selection. At the developer«s offices, you can always count on answers to pressing questions and competent help in finding optimal purchase conditions.

Akvilon Group,
Arkhangelsk, ul. Popova, d. 14, 6th floor;
phone: +7 (818) 265-00-08;
email: akvilon@group-akvilon.ru;
VKontakte group;
Telegram channel;
Arh.group-akvilon.ru.

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