Three quarters of the 495 loans extended under the government’s affordable mortgage program have gone for dachas

, the Finance Ministry reports. In the first four months of the program, 14 authorized banks made a total of $15.5 million in loans – 78% to the ‘secondary’ market. Although the program is designed to help young families buy their first home, banks prefer to lend for weekend homes because borrowers can put their primary residences up for collateral. The interest rate is 7%. Ukraine’s prime rate is 7.5%. Banks are considering another $26 million in loans – 81% to the secondary market.